About the Winterthur Museum Store

In late October 1951, H.F. du Pont and his wife, Ruth, moved into their new home at Winterthur—a gracious residence they called "The Cottage." Designed by their friend, architect Thomas Waterman, in a modern interpretation of the English Regency style, the house was built on the site of the original Winterthur farmhouse. With a mere fifty rooms (compared to the 175 of their previous home), The Cottage offered a more intimate setting for the du Ponts' legendary hospitality. Over the years, guests including First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Prince Rainier of Monaco, painter Andrew Wyeth, and philanthropist Brooke Astor graced these elegant rooms.

Today, The Cottage lives on as the Winterthur Museum Store. Here, we continue Henry Francis du Pont's passion for beautiful objects and fine craftsmanship, offering visitors a curated selection of unique decorative items and artisan-made treasures. In this way, the Store honors both the spirit of the house and the enduring vision of Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.

Shopping with Purpose

Every purchase you make at the Winterthur Museum Store directly supports Winterthur's mission: to inspire and educate through its collection, estate, and academic programs by engaging diverse audiences in the study, preservation, and interpretation of American material culture, art, design, and history. From our carefully curated objects to our exclusive publications, each item in our collection reflects the artistry and scholarship that define Winterthur—and your support helps ensure this extraordinary place endures for generations to come.

Winterthur is home to nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America since 1640, displayed in the magnificent 175-room house much as it was when the du Pont family called it home. Beyond its walls, 1,000 acres of protected meadows, woodlands, and ponds surround a sixty-acre garden—designed by du Pont himself—renowned as one of America's finest. Winterthur's graduate programs and research library further cement its role as a vital center for the study of American art and culture.

As du Pont himself wrote in his later years:

"I sincerely hope that the Museum will be a continuing source of inspiration and education for all time, and that the gardens and grounds will of themselves be a country place museum where visitors may enjoy, as I have, not only the flowers, trees and shrubs but also the sunlit meadows, shady wood paths, and the peace and great calm of a country place which has been loved and taken care of for three generations."

—H. F. du Pont

Visit Us

Nestled in the historic and naturally beautiful Brandywine Valley, the Winterthur Museum Store offers a distinctive shopping experience that reflects the artistry and heritage of this remarkable place. We invite you to visit us for in-store shopping Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

To learn more about Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library—including our mission, values, and commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion—visit https://www.winterthur.org/about/.