East Marlborough Township in Kennett Square in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Fountains
⎯⎯⎯
Concerts
Photographed by Pete Skillman, April 18, 2025
1. Fountains / Concerts Marker
The Open Air Fountain displays are one of Longwood's most popular attractions. Especially beloved are the shows during our holiday season - ethereal dances of illuminated water, rising and falling to a symphony of holiday songs.
Mr. du Pont first installed fountains into the stage in 1914, inspired by secret joke fountains in Italian gardens. Today, the fountains are a intricate choreography of water and light synchronized to music.
Photograph of the Open Air Theatre holiday fountain show, 2013.
"The thousand guests assembled last evening in the Open Air Theatre...gasped at the loveliness devised for their eyes..."
- Remarks after the debut of the expanded fountains, 1927
An extraordinary range of world-class musicians have graced the Longwood stage, playing jazz, classical, popular, folk, bluegrass, and music from all corners of the world.
Mr. du Pont liked military bands; John Phillip Sousa and the United States Marine Band have given concerts. A classical highlight was a 1941 performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra. In the 1980s, the performance scope expanded with concerts several nights a week
this page online
Photograph of Las Cafeteras performing in the Open Air Theatre, 2012
"I could get used to singing in a place like this. Thank you Longwood Gardens."
- Tony Bennett
Erected by Longwood Gardens.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 39° 52.343′ N, 75° 40.484′ W. Marker was in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It was in East Marlborough Township. It could be reached from Longwood Road. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square PA 19348, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia. It was also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself
Photographed by Pete Skillman, April 18, 2025
2. Fountains / Concerts Marker - wide view
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Open Air Theatre (here, next to this marker); A Century of Great Art (a few steps from this marker); Japanese Flowering Dogwood (within shouting distance of this marker); Flower Garden Walk (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Open Air Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); American Elm (within shouting distance of this marker); Iron Snakes (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Peirce-du Pont House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kennett Square.
Other markers no longer nearby. A Celebration of Art and Nature (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named American Elm (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Peirce - du Pont House (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.
