Winterthur kicks off the holidays with special decorations

Those with a flair for interior decorating or local history can get in the holiday spirit at Winterthur Museum and Country Estate this month.

Designed to look like a European country house, Winterthur was owned by Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) and used by the family to host parties and display du Pont’s antique furniture collection.

From Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, the museum decks its halls with Victorian-era Christmas adornments, and this year’s decorations were inspired by holiday gatherings held by the du Ponts in the Wilmington area.

Before making the drive, here are five things you should know about Yuletide at Winterthur.

1. Visitors can live vicariously through a Victorian era holiday celebration.
The one-hour, guided tour will take visitors to the fifth and sixth floors of the house, which contain the Chinese parlor, du Pont dining room, and other entertaining rooms.
The dining room is styled to emulate a winter white table spread used by du Pont in the 1950s, and trees are decorated with large bulb lights and vintage ornaments. Plants have been placed around the trees to compliment the colors in the evergreen’s decorations.
Last year, the museum used decorations that reflected the celebrations of the du Ponts, and the idea was so popular Winterthur decided to use a similar idea again, said Vicki Saltzman, senior communications manager for Winterthur.
Other decorations, such as a butterfly tree, weren’t used by the du Ponts but reflect Henry Francis du Pont’s principles of symmetry and incorporating nature in decorating, Saltzman said.

2. Tour reservations should be made in advance.
Saltzman said tickets may be purchased at Winterthur but urged people to call and make reservations in advance.
“This is our busiest time of the year, and we wouldn’t want to turn people away that have driven a long ways to get here,” she said.
Tickets can be purchased at the museum’s website winterthur.org or by calling 302-888-4600.
The cost is $22 for adults, $12 for children ages 2 to 11, and free for infants under 2 years old. Admission is $20 for students and people who are at least 62 years old.

3. In addition to the decorations, visitors get to browse special exhibits of paintings and vintage holiday paper products.
One exhibit, called “Good Tidings to You,” consists of Victoria-era paper products such as holiday cards, calendars, children’s games and sheet music.
“Faces of a New Nation” also features portraits that depict men, women and children of early America; the paintings are on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

4. Visitors can listen to music or learn to create their own decorations.
The Yuletide festivities include demonstrations on flower arranging, a talk on gingerbread, and a breakfast with Santa. See the museum’s website for a complete calendar. Some of the events require pre-registration and a small fee.

5. Leave Scrooge at home ...
… along with any other holiday nay-sayers. With all the carols and decorations, Yuletide is supposed to lighten your spirits and get you in the mood for the holidays.

ADDRESS Route 52 (5105 Kennett Pike), Winterthur, DE 19735
HOURS 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday
PHONE 302-888-4600
WEBSITE winterthur.org

Email Elaine Hughes at elaine.hughes@doverpost.com.