The Fabulous Fountains of Longwood Gardens

Larger than life: Art that inspires us through the ages

The hillside of the magnificent Main Fountain Garden gently drops like an amphitheater towards the explosive fountain, which is raised like a stage. The amphitheater-like setting is symmetrically arranged as a formal garden composed of smaller fountains, ponds, boxwood shrubs, and Linden trees. Courtesy of J.H.Smith/Cartiophotos

An explosion of water thrusts high into the sky, then another and another and another as a fountain at Longwood Gardens performs a beautifully choreographed dance. Industrialist Pierre du Pont purchased a small farm at Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, in 1906 to preserve an old-wood arboretum of the previous owners, the Pierce family.

Over the next 20 years, he envisioned and built beautiful fountains to grace the estate in what he called a “Fountain Theater.” The Open Air Theatre debuted in 1914 for performing arts shows. Today, fountain displays delight audiences before and after the main performances take place on the stage.