Yuletide at Winterthur

Winterthur Museum & Country Estate is the former home of Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969), an avid antiques collector and horticulturist. In the early 20th century, H. F. du Pont and his father, Henry Algernon du Pont, designed Winterthur in the spirit of 18th- and 19th-century European country houses. Traditional trees, family celebrations, and Christmas wrapping customs highlight Yuletide at Winterthur, which runs through January 4, 2009. Room settings on the tour inspired by du Pont family celebrations include one devoted to New Year's calling and a 1940s Christmas day celebration. Thomas Jayne, one of America's top interior designers, has decorated four rooms that blend traditional and contemporary holiday decorations. Admission to the Yuletide tour costs $22 for adults; $20 for students and seniors; $12 for ages 2-11. Winterthur is located on Route 52, 5 miles south of U.S. Route 1 and 6 miles northwest of Wilmington, Delaware. If you can't make it, here are some photos of Yuletide at Winterthur.