Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library offers a peaceful alternative through both guided tours and outdoor experiences.
A Thoughtful Start to the New Year With a Guided Tour at Winterthur
Jamie Kleman | Contributing Writer Delaware Live | January 2026
As New Year’s Eve celebrations wind down and the calendar turns to January, many people look for ways to begin the year with intention rather than intensity. For those seeking a quieter, more reflective start to the New Year, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library offers a peaceful alternative through both guided tours and outdoor experiences.
One such opportunity comes on January 1, when Winterthur hosts a New Year’s Day Hike from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The guided outdoor walk invites participants to explore the estate’s scenic landscapes at a relaxed pace, offering a chance to welcome the year surrounded by nature. The experience is designed for those who want fresh air, movement, and a sense of calm after the bustle of the holiday season.
Located in the Brandywine Valley just outside Wilmington, Winterthur combines American decorative arts, historic architecture, and expansive gardens, creating a setting that encourages curiosity, calm, and connection. A visit in the first days of January allows guests to slow their pace, take in their surroundings, and begin the year grounded in history and beauty.
Winterthur is best known for its renowned collection of American decorative arts, displayed across a 175-room historic mansion. Guided house tours provide insight into how Americans lived from the 17th through the 19th centuries, using furniture, textiles, ceramics, and architectural details to tell stories of daily life, craftsmanship, and design evolution. Knowledgeable guides help connect individual rooms and objects to broader historical themes, making the experience engaging for both first-time visitors and longtime admirers of the estate.
Winter is an especially appealing time to visit. With fewer crowds, the museum experience feels quieter and more intimate, allowing guests to linger in period rooms and appreciate details that might be missed during busier seasons. Guides often highlight how households historically adapted to colder months, offering seasonal context that adds depth to the tour.
Guided house tours are included with general admission and typically run throughout the day during museum hours, which are generally Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the final house tour beginning in the late afternoon. Winterthur staff recommend arriving earlier in the day to allow time for both the house and the surrounding grounds.
Beyond the museum interiors, Winterthur’s gardens and natural landscape remain open for exploration year-round, weather permitting. While the gardens are quieter in winter, walking paths, wooded areas, and formal vistas offer a peaceful setting for reflection. When available, narrated garden tram tours provide an overview of the estate’s landscape design and seasonal transitions, adding another layer to the visit.
Seasonal programming often extends into early January, allowing visitors to experience the mansion decorated for winter and the holidays during the first days of the new year. These displays are designed to complement the historic interiors rather than overwhelm them, preserving the estate’s sense of elegance and authenticity.
Whether visiting solo, with a partner, or hosting out-of-town guests, a guided tour or New Year’s Day hike at Winterthur offers an experience that feels both enriching and restorative. Starting the year surrounded by history, art, and nature invites reflection, inspiration, and a slower rhythm for the months ahead.
Current tour schedules, admission details, and planning information are available at https://www.winterthur.org/visit/plan-your-visit/.
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