BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM WELCOMES FIVE MILLIONTH VISITOR
(July 15, 2004; #021)

When Marian Harrison from Brazil, Indiana arrived at the Brandywine River Museum on July 15, her only expectation was to view firsthand the museum's renowned art collections and special exhibitions. Little did she know that upon entering the museum at 10:24 a.m. she would become its five millionth visitor in 33 years. Mrs. Harrison and her husband, Don, who were vacationing in Philadelphia, had never been to the museum before. "We've always wanted to see the art of the Wyeths," said Mrs. Harrison. "Being the five millionth visitor is truly exciting."

Museum director James H. Duff and membership coordinator Dawn Swartout greeted the Harrisons and presented Mrs. Harrison with a gift of items from the Museum Shop including: A boxed set of notecards featuring art by members of the Wyeth family, A one-year family membership for free admission to the museum, Brandywine River Museum (a souvenir book about the museum's art collections),

A Brandywine "Critter" (a decorative ornament made from all-natural materials by museum volunteers),Wildflower seeds (propagated by garden volunteers), and Notes from Turtle Creek (a book of essays published by the Brandywine Conservancy's Environmental Management Center).

The Brandywine River Museum opened in 1971, exhibiting 20 works of art in a former grist mill which had been converted to a museum of regional art in harmony with the surrounding landscape and local history. Nearly 200,000 visitors discovered the Brandywine River Museum that first year.

Today, the museum's collections include over 3,000 works of art; an important library of books, manuscripts and artists' memorabilia; and over 9,000 additional artifacts at the N.C. Wyeth Studio. The museum has presented 187 exhibitions, many on single artists, and published more than 75 scholarly exhibition catalogues. Visitors from every state and 80 foreign countries have toured the museum over the past 33 years to see its unparalleled collection of works by three generations of Wyeths and its outstanding collections of American illustration, still life and landscape painting. In recent years, the museum began offering educational tours of the Kuerner Farm and the N.C. Wyeth House and Studio, two historic properties of great public value.

The Brandywine River Museum is part of the Brandywine Conservancy, an environmental organization founded in 1967. The Conservancy's Environmental Management Center is a leading local and national advocate for responsible land use and has been instrumental in permanently protecting more than 39,000 acres of farmland and open space through conservation easements on over 400 properties.

This spring, the Brandywine Conservancy completed its ambitious $25 million Building for a New Century project. Highlights of the project include two entirely new buildings, two renovated office buildings, two new museum galleries, a new classroom, and a dramatic new wing for the Brandywine River Museum.

Located on U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, the Brandywine River Museum is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Christmas Day. Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for seniors ages 65 and over, students with I.D., and children ages 6 to 12; and free for children under six and Brandywine Conservancy members. For more information, please call 610-388-2700.
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Photography is available upon request.

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