Kennett Township near Kennett Square in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Italian Water Garden

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 26, 2021

1. Italian Water Garden Marker

Inscription.

Pierre S. du Pont's love of water and fountains are embodied in this Garden built from 1925-1927. Inspired by his early travels to Italy, he drew inspiration for Villa Gamberaia, near Florence for the basic design. Mr. du Pont planned every aspect of this Garden, from the sculptures to the hydraulic calculations. He designed the two most distant corner pools to be 14 feet longer than those nearer, creating the illusion that all four pools are identical in size.

The Italian Water Garden is the second of three fountain gardens du Pont designed for his Longwood—he learned from his work on this garden which led to improvements to the original design of the Open Air Theatre and to his final fountain garden, the Main Fountain Garden.

[Photo captions, left to right, read]
• View of Villa Gamberaia from The Art of Garden Design in Italy by H. Inigo Triggs

• Above: Plan of Longwood's Water Garden as drawn by du Pont in 1925.

• Right: Elevation drawn by du Pont depicts viewshed from the elevated observation terrace (at left). Du Pont calculated designs for shorter front and longer back pools to counteract foreshortening.

Erected by Longwood

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Gardens.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.

Location. 39° 52.449′ N, 75° 40.199′ W. Marker is near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in Kennett Township. It can be reached from Longwood Road west of East Baltimore Pike (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling west. Marker and Italian Water Garden are on the grounds of Longwood Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square PA 19348, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Indian Hannah (within

Italian Water Garden and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 26, 2021

2. Italian Water Garden and Marker

shouting distance of this marker); Victorian Marker, 1870 (within shouting distance of this marker); A Foreign Dignitary (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named A Foreign Dignitary (about 500 feet away); Peirce's Woods (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Peirce's Woods (about 700 feet away); Peirce's Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Peirce-du Pont House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kennett Square.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Italian Water Garden (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Longwood Gardens: 1926-1936 Flowers, Fountains, & Music. (Submitted on October 19, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Italian Water Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 26, 2021

3. Italian Water Garden

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 359 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 19, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.