Jan 5th, 2010
American history
While my parents were visiting us over Christmas, we took the opportunity to do a few “touristy” things. Here in the Philadelphia area, there are all sorts of historic sites to visit. Our first destination was actually in northern Delaware: Winterthur, one of the DuPont family estates.
We have a family membership but rarely visit the museum/house; we usually spend all of our time roaming the grounds, particularly what Sylvia calls “the fairy garden.” We do venture into the house to see the holiday displays during the Yuletide event, though.
The place is set up as if the DuPonts were still living and entertaining there. The decor in most rooms is from the early 20th century, and nearly every room has a themed tree. (We were disappointed not to see the fairy tree there this year.)
Even without the holiday decorations, this place is pretty amazing. Take a look at this room, for example:
Here’s an interesting story: the wallpaper was handpainted in China in the late 1700s. When it arrived, Henry DuPont found that it was a few inches too tall for this room. Rather than trim the paper, he had the walls curved at the top in order to accommodate the extra length.
He adjusted the walls to fit the wallpaper. Seriously–who has that kind of money any more? I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be that filthy stinking rich.
The next day we took a trip to Valley Forge. Talk about a study in contrasts: one day gilt opulence, the next day log cabins and mud.
I’ve been to Valley Forge a few times but only wandered on my own. This was the first time I did anything that was “official” there. In addition to walking through the house where George Washington lived (and slept, of course!) during that winter, we got to see some park rangers in historically accurate dress.
And of course there was a musket-firing demonstration:
The most sociologically fascinating element of the day? Seeing this in the gift shop:
And look who’s standing behind her:
Poor George.
Wow about the George Washington Barbie. Who knew?!
Makes you wonder what the wallpaper cost…
Note Barbie’s coat is pink, not red. I bet Barbie would have changed the walls instead of the paper, too. It’s so hard to find tasteful wallpaper.
I am pretty sure this is the most bad-ass depiction of George Washington I’ve ever seen.