Explore Nearby Museums
 Updated: 8/30/2012 
Brandywine River Museum
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Description

Exhibiting American art in a 19th-century grist mill, the Brandywine River Museum is internationally known for its unparalleled collection of works by three generations of Wyeths and its fine collection of American illustration, still life and landscape painting.

Wildflower Gardens

Designed by horticulturist FM Mooberry and begun in 1974, the gardens feature indigenous and some naturalized plants of the greater Brandywine region displayed in natural settings. In 1979, Lady Bird Johnson dedicated the gardens to Ford B. Draper and Henry A. Thouron, two individuals who played important roles in the establishment of the Brandywine Conservancy. Today, the gardens are maintained in memory of Mary Sharp.

Mission

The Brandywine Conservancy is committed to the belief that preservation and wise use of natural and cultural resources provides health, education, beauty, and increased quality of life for individuals and communities. The Conservancy assures present and future generations of open space, dependable water supplies, historical sites, and important works of American art, and also provides an understanding of the meaning and potential of these things, both separately and in relation to each other. The Conservancy preserves, protects, interprets, utilizes and displays these resources through its Brandywine River Museum and Environmental Management Center.

History

In the mid-1960s, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania in the historic Brandywine Valley, faced possible massive industrial development. The impact would have dramatically changed the character and future of a community that was then largely rural. At the same time, and for decades thereafter, development proposed throughout the region, particularly in floodplain areas, threatened to devastate water supplies for numerous communities in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, including the City of Wilmington.

Appreciating the need for rapid action, a group of local residents bought endangered land and founded the Brandywine Conservancy in 1967. The first conservation easements, protecting more than five and one-half miles along the Brandywine, were granted in 1969. Today, the Conservancy holds more than 430 conservation easements and has protected more than 44,000 acres in Chester and Delaware counties, Pennsylvania, and in New Castle County, Delaware.

In 1971, the Conservancy opened the Brandywine River Museum in the renovated Hoffman’s Mill, a former gristmill built in 1864 that was part of the Conservancy’s first preservation efforts. With nearly six million visitors to date, the museum has established an international reputation for its unparalleled collection and its dedication to American art with primary emphasis on the art of the Brandywine region, American illustration, still life and landscape painting, and the work of the Wyeth family.

Artifact Collections

The Brandywine River Museum collects and preserves American art with primary emphasis on the art of the Brandywine region, American illustration and still life painting. Since 1971, when it was founded, the museum's collections have grown to more than 3,000 works of art by hundreds of artists and thousands of other objects in the N.C. Wyeth House & Studio

Landscape & Genre Painting
Still Life and Portraits
American Illustration
Three Generations of Wyeth Art
Programs
Please see our website for times and details.

Adult Programs
Family & Children's Programs
School Programs
Teacher Services
Library

The Brandywine River Museum Library includes unique resources related to a variety of American art and artists.

The Library contains approximately 3,500 volumes and approximately 22,000 additional items, including portfolios and scrapbooks, films and video tapes, sound cassettes and phonograph records, historic calendars and posters, exhibition posters and brochures, photographs, ephemera such as clippings, tear sheets, book jackets, and archival materials related to various artists. It also contains the Charles Scribners' Sons' card file regarding the illustrations commissioned by the publisher over many decades.

The reference room features books, exhibition catalogues and other printed materials relating to American art history and the Museum's history.

The Library is open by appointment to researchers, scholars, students, and others interested in using its resources for the study of topics related to American art history. For information about the Brandywine River Museum Library call 610-388-2700 or send an e-mail to: library@brandywine.org

Access: Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: True

Services
Museum Restaurant

Enjoy lunch and refreshments and a breathtaking view of the Brandywine River. The restaurant serves "Breakfast on the Brandywine" from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings, with a revolving menu that changes weekly. The cost of $6 per person includes juice and coffee, tea or milk. A child's breakfast is also available for $3.75. The cafeteria-style restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows and seats approximately 80 people. Museum admission is required for restaurant access.

Group Tours

The Brandywine River Museum offers discounted admission rates ($10 per person; $8 per person for seniors) to groups of 14 or more. Visitors are provided with a Museum Gallery Guide, allowing a self-guided tour. Docent-led tours, approximately one hour in length, are available Monday through Friday by reservation.

Tours of the museum's Wildflower Gardens, N.C. Wyeth House and Studio and Kuerner Farm are available on a limited basis. Transportation to the N.C. Wyeth House and Studio and Kuerner Farm is by Brandywine River Museum shuttle bus only, which can accommodate a maximum of 14 people. The tour is approximately one hour long.

The Museum Shop

The Museum Shop offers art reproductions, posters, gift items, books and other publications related to the Brandywine River Museum's exhibitions and collections, as well as environmental publications published by the Brandywine Conservancy's Environmental Management Center.

Make your next event more than special.

For informal cocktail gatherings or formal seated dinners, the Brandywine River Museum is a beautiful site to entertain staff, clients and VIPs. And, with Museum galleries open during events, guests will be thrilled by a magnificent collection of world-renowned art.

The Museum combines the charm of the old with the excitement of the new, the elegance of art with the grandeur of nature. Galleries boast original beams and wide board floors, while glass-walled lobbies provide expansive views of the historic river and countryside. The Brandywine River Museum is available year-round for events from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Event Rental
Restaurant
Group Tours
Street Address
1 Hoffman's Mill Road
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 141
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
phone: 610-388-2700
e-mail: inquiries@brandywine.org
home page: www.brandywinemuseum.org
Report Incorrect Data
Submit Events
Hours of Operation
Daily9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Closed Christmas Day; (Extended hours until 6:00 p.m., Dec. 26-30)

Museum Type(s)
Art
Botanical Garden
Culture
History
Library
Park
Staff
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

Tuesday, March 11 - Friday, March 14, 2025

Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hosted by: Tennessee Association of Museums

Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality

With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future

The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking

The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Athens, Ohio

Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosted by: North Carolina Museums Council

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.

By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day

The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.

The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.

For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

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