WINTERTHUR GARDENS AND VALLEY FORGE September 30-October 1, 2014

Staying in West Chester was such a great central location for so many different sights to visit. Crossing into Delaware we visited another beautiful garden, Winterthur Gardens. The days were clear and sunny, perfect for walking through the gardens and the childhood home of horticulturist Henry du Pont.  The 175-room house, Winterthur, holds thousands of objects made or used in America between 1640 and 1860.  The house is surrounded by rolling hills and wooded areas, and gardens everywhere.

But what drew us there was a special exhibit from our favorite PBS show, Downton Abbey.  On display were the original costumes from the show along with the video clip of scenes in which they were worn. Such fun to see them up close.

 Matthew

 Lady Edith's wedding dress

 Lady Sybil's harem outfit

 The night Matthew asks Lady Mary to marry him

 Cosuin Rose and her flapper dress

There were forty historically inspired costumes in all, these are just some of my favorites. It was a great exhibit displaying photographs and clothing from the fictional show and blending it with the real life at Winterthur in the early part of the 1900s. 

Our last day in the area was a change from gardens and museums and time for some history.  We were only 20 minutes from Valley Forge Historical Park and a walk back into the Revolutionary war. We began at the Visitor Center for a film and timeline of the six month period of Valley Forge before driving through the countryside where more than 2000 soldiers died the winter of 1777, though there were never any battles fought at Valley Forge.  The soldiers died of hunger, disease and the elements. But the time spent there created a strong and disciplined Continental Army after being trained by Prussian Army General von Stueben. There were about 20 designated stops to look at and using a cell phone link we heard the history that took place there.

It's such an emotional experience to be standing where these historical events happened; to be looking out at the landscape they saw,

 and to look inside replicas of the huts used for shelter during that severe Pennsylvania winter.

 A highlight of the many sites along the driving tour was a stop at General Washington's Headquarters. Interesting to learn that his wife Martha joined him there and helped care for soldiers in the huts and camp hospital.

 This statue stands nearby.

Continuing a little northwest, we left West Chester mid-day for our next two night stay at Sun Valley RV Park in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country. The route I mapped out took us on tiny rolling country roads where we came upon a railroad trestle too low for us to pass under, and a scary experience when the RV actually died while we were on a steep climb. We got ourselves over the crest after disconnecting both the car and dolly and finally reached the park.  What an experience, one I hope we never repeat!