This Garden in Pennsylvania Was Named the World’s Most Beautiful – And It Helped Catch a Murderer in 2023

The Most Beautiful Garden in the World

Address: 1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348, United States

Longwood Gardens turned heads worldwide after UK-based Titan Travel named it the planet’s most beautiful garden based on thousands of reviews.

Now this garden in Pennsylvania garden has made headlines in September 2023 – but for a different reason (the kinds you won’t expect).

Here’s everything that makes this place special, plus everything you need to know if you want to visit in 2025.

Pennsylvania’s Famous Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Tucked into the Brandywine Creek Valley, it spans over a thousand acres of gardens, woods, and meadows.

The Lenni Lenape Tribe lived here first, hunting in the forests, fishing in the streams, and growing food in the fields for thousands of years.

You can see proof of their life here through quartz spear points found on the property, now shown in the Peirce-du Pont House.

First Acquired by a Quaker Farmer in the 1700s

George Peirce bought 402 acres from William Penn’s commissioners in 1700. His son Joshua worked and built a brick farmhouse in 1730 (which still exists today).

To harvest the land, Joshua’s twin grandsons, Samuel and Joshua, later created a 15-acre arboretum, planting native and exotic trees in rows east of their home.

A Historical Marker for the Last of the Lenape People

To honor the land’s history, Joshua and Samuel Peirce put up a marker for Hannah Freeman, believed to be the last Lenape person from the area, born in 1731.

Today’s visitors can see the Sylvan Fountain, added by Pierre S. du Pont in 1925-27, near this marker in what became known as Peirce’s Park.

It Was a Station on the Underground Railroad

Before the Civil War, people called this area “Long Woods.”

The spot served as a vital Underground Railroad station, where escaped slaves found safety. Local Quakers from Kennett Square, Hamorton, and Wilmington, Delaware supported this effort.

Leading the Public Garden Movement

By 1850, the arboretum grew into one of America’s best tree collections.

It became a local gathering spot as outdoor social spaces gained popularity across America. Throughout the late 1800s, people held community picnics and social events.

Saved from Ruin in the 20th Century

The early 1900s saw the arboretum fall into neglect.

Pierre S. du Pont, a 36-year-old businessman and philanthropist, stepped in before a lumber company would cut down the trees in 1906.

He bought the farm on July 20, 1906, working with Isabel Darlington, Chester County’s first female lawyer.

Though the plan wasn’t Longwood Gardens at first, his love for entertaining friends led to the farm becoming one of America’s top gardens.

Welcomed the Public in 1921

Du Pont welcomed the public in 1921.

He set up the Longwood Foundation in 1937, which trustees took over in 1946. His death in 1954 left behind a well-funded plan for Longwood’s future. The garden stayed free until 1973 when it started charging admission.

Home to Nearly 900 Types of Plants & More

Today’s 1,100-acre property features diverse outdoor gardens with both formal and natural designs.

The Conservatory spans 1.6 acres under glass, housing 13 indoor gardens and 859 plant types, plus fountains.

The Gardens run extensive education programs, including a free two-year professional horticulture school, fellowships, and internships.

Year-round events include floral exhibits, gardening demos, children’s activities, musical concerts, organ recitals, theatre, fountain displays, and holiday light shows.

Surrounded by 300 Hectares of Unspoiled Nature

This place holds 750 acres of natural space with over 200 plant communities.

This Mid-Atlantic Piedmont area includes mature forests, new growth, native meadows, wetlands, and streams, all under research-based management.

Longwood’s 61-foot-tall Stone Chimes Tower

Du Pont built the 61-foot-tall stone Chimes Tower in 1929.

Inspired by French architecture, he installed 25 tubular chimes from Chicago’s J.C. Deagan Company, testing their sound reach first. He could play them from his house using a special switch.

The garden replaced these with an electronic carillon in 1956, then upgraded to a 62-bell Eijsbouts carillon from the Netherlands in 2001.

A Longwood Garden Trail Cam Spotted a Murder Convict

In 2023, security cameras caught Danelo Souza Cavalcante, a 34-year-old Brazilian prison escapee, on the grounds.

He had escaped Chester County Prison on August 31.

After avoiding capture for a week, cameras spotted him at Longwood Gardens, which eventually helped the authorities track down Cavalcante.

Seasonal Attractions at Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens transforms with five distinct seasonal themes.

The calendar begins with Winter Wonder in mid-January, followed by Spring Blooms starting in early April.

From May through October, the Festival of Fountains takes center stage. Early September brings Autumn’s Colors, which culminate in the spectacular Chrysanthemum festival.

The year rounds out with A Longwood Christmas, running from before Thanksgiving through the first week of January.

Visiting Longwood Gardens in 2025

Timed reservations are required for admission. Hours and reservation rules at Longwood Gardens also vary depending on the month and season.

Here’s the schedule for the Gardens section from January 15 to March 27, 2025:

• Wednesday–Monday: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
• Tuesday: Closed
• Valentine’s Weekend, February 14–16: 10:00 am–9:00 pm

Check the official website for complete schedule and updates.