Wilmington’s historic Nemours Estate is the perfect destination for Chester County residents seeking a quick day trip over state lines, writes Melissa Jacobs for Main Line Tonight.
Located less than thirty minutes from Kennett Square, the Nemours Estate houses an expansive mansion, a vintage car garage, and two hundred acres of flourishing gardens. The property offers self-guided tours with staff throughout offering information and answering questions.
The estate marks the long history between world-renowned pediatric healthcare system Nemours Children’s Health and its founder Alfred I. duPont. Famed architecture firm Carrere and Hastings designed the Wilmington home in 1910 for duPont and his second wife Alicia Heyward Bradford.
After Bradford’s passing in 1920, duPont continued to live at the Nemours Estate with his third wife Jessie Ball.
Stepping inside, the stunning mansion boasts French-inspired interiors honoring the duPonts’ French ancestry. Intricate patterns and décor ensure there is something new to explore in each room.
Visitors can tour the sunny conservatory, the formal dining room, the expansive bedroom and the lavish bathroom. Each room is perfectly preserved to capture the estate’s original beauty.
Outdoors, the on-site garage displays preserved vintage cars. The surrounding gardens include woodlands, greenery, statues, and fountains perfect for a scenic walk outside.
To cap off the visit, a twenty-minute bus tour throughout the property includes more stories and historic details to boast everything this stunning piece of history has to offer.
Read more about the Nemours Estate and the local destination’s long history in Main Line Tonight.
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