Winterthur Museum highlights 75 years of Americana with artifacts tied to nation's founders

WINTERTHUR, Del (WPVI) -- As Winterthur Museum marks its 75th year, the Delaware institution is showcasing pieces from one of the nation's largest Americana collections - including objects once used by key figures in America's founding.

The museum houses about 90,000 items made or used in America since 1640. Among them is a large China service that belonged to George Washington, displayed in two cabinets. "He ate off of this. Martha ate off of this. They entertained with this," said Catharine Dann Roeber . "And what it's commemorating is a group that he belonged to which was American and French officers that had fought in the American Revolution."

Roeber said Washington ordered the dishware from East Asia. It was imported through Baltimore and New York before arriving at his home in Virginia. She noted that the pieces also reflect the lives of those who worked in Washington's household. "When somebody looks at this, they can think about the first president who used this but then also the people... who were preparing the dishes, who were cleaning the dishes, most certainly so who cared for this? George Washington wasn't in the kitchen washing these dishes he had enslaved and free people working in his house, who were and in the plantation that he owned, who were out in the river the Potomac."

Winterthur's 175room former DuPont estate now serves as the backdrop for its extensive collection, which curators say is increasingly important for telling lesser known stories about the people who shaped the country.

In another gallery, visitors can view six large tankards crafted by Paul Revere. "It's Paul Revere. So we think of Paul Revere on Paul Revere's Ride, talking about, you know, the British are coming, but he also had to make a living, and he did that through silversmithing and metal work," a museum representative said. The set is the largest surviving group of tankards made by Revere.

Reggie Lynch, director of interpretation and engagement, said the museum hopes visitors leave with a deeper understanding of American history. "I hope, for one, they walk away feeling better than when they came in," he said. "I also hope that they walk away with a new understanding of American history, whether it's something you know, very small, or something very big. I hope that they walk away thinking about something differently."

Winterthur continues to celebrate its anniversary with exhibitions that highlight the breadth and complexity of America's past.