Chester County’s Brandywine Valley is one of America’s most historically layered landscapes — the site of a pivotal Revolutionary War battle, the birthplace of American decorative arts collecting, and home to some of the country’s most extraordinary estates and gardens. The three-day guided group tour offered by Chester County Tourism covers it all.
Day 1: du Pont Wonders
The du Pont family left an extraordinary mark on the Brandywine Valley. Spend the first day exploring the estates and gardens they left behind.
Nemours Estate
Begin the day in Wilmington, Delaware at Nemours Estate, the grand 77-room French-inspired mansion originally owned by prominent industrialist, financier, and philanthropist Alfred I. du Pont. Built in 1910, the estate is set within sweeping formal gardens and filled with fine arts, antiques, and furnishings from the age of aristocracy — an extraordinary surviving example of Gilded Age ambition and elegance.
Longwood Gardens
After lunch at Brandywine Prime or Longwood Gardens Café, spend the afternoon at Longwood Gardens enjoying 1,077 acres of world-class botanical displays indoors and out. Explore the history of the du Pont family at the Pierre S. du Pont house, from the opening of the East Conservatory in 1921 to the sweeping 2024 renovation that added a brand new 32,000 sq. ft. West Conservatory. From May through October, plan an evening visit to experience an Illuminated Fountain Performance.
Historic Kennett Square
End the day in historic Kennett Square, where you can shop at independent stores, stroll the tree-lined streets, and dine in one of the Mushroom Capital of the World’s many restaurants.
Day 2: Historic Arts
The Brandywine Valley has long been a place where art and history overlap, from the country’s premier collection of American decorative arts to the studios of the Wyeth family. Day 2 explores that legacy through two of its most celebrated institutions.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
H.F. du Pont’s former 175-room country estate is now home to the most significant collection of American decorative arts and antiques in the country. Guided tours of the house and garden tram tours are both available, offering different ways to experience the estate’s remarkable holdings and 60 acres of naturalistic garden.
Brandywine Museum of Art
After lunch at Winterthur Café or the historic Mendenhall Inn, tour the studios of Andrew and N.C. Wyeth and explore their works within the museum’s permanent collection of American illustration, still life, and landscape painting. Traveling exhibitions complement the collection year-round.
Downtown West Chester
Finish your day with dinner in one of Chester County’s most vibrant downtowns. Consider pairing it with a Chester County History Center Walking Tour to learn about the borough’s role in American history.
Day 3: Revolutionary History
The Brandywine Valley was pivotal to the Revolution. Day 3 brings that story to life, from the fields of Brandywine Battlefield to the encampment grounds at Valley Forge.
Brandywine Battlefield
Walk the grounds where one of the Revolution’s most consequential battles was fought on September 11, 1777. Step-on guides can join your group to follow the path of the troops, tour General Washington’s headquarters, and bring the story of the battle to life.
Black Powder Tavern
Enjoy lunch at Black Powder Tavern, a rustic-chic hub serving classic American fare and craft beers in a 1746 building.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Roam — or tour by trolley — the vast grounds where George Washington and the Continental Army endured the winter encampment of 1777. The park offers a powerful and moving window into one of the most defining moments of the Revolutionary War.
National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum
Alternatively, explore America’s industrial heritage through the 19th-century mills of the Lukens Steel Co.