The borough of Kennett Square is located in the Brandywine Valley Region of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The historic area is where the Battle of Brandywine was fought in the Revolutionary War, the Du Pont family made its fortune and three generations of Wyeths lived and painted the local people and landscapes. An easy drive from Philadelphia, Wilmington and Washington, D.C., Kennett Square offers many interesting surprises for visitors.
The region's number one crop is the mushroom, and each September Kennett Square hosts a two-day Mushroom Festival to "promote the mushroom" and "educate consumers about the health benefits of mushrooms." The community event also raises money for local non-profits. It features art, music, contests, stage performances, a Growers Exhibit and dozens of vendors offering every form of mushroom, from grilled portobellos and mushroom ice cream to mushroom sculptures and jewelry. While enjoying the festival, visitors might want to stop by The Mushroom Cap, a Kennett Square shop that sells "all things related to everyone's favorite fungus" and features an exhibit of mushroom artifacts and paraphernalia.
Housed in a converted 19th century grist mill in nearby Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, the Brandywine River Museum features regional and American art and has a large collection of works by N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth. Its emphasis is on "art of the Brandywine region, America illustration and still life painting." Victoria Wyeth, granddaughter of Andrew and niece of Jamie, conducts special tours that include discussions of the artists' works, subjects and techniques. The museum also offers tours of the N.C. Wyeth House and Studio, as well as the Kuerner Farm, which inspired the works of Andrew Wyeth. Visitors can also enjoy the museum's Brandywine Conservancy's Wildflower and Native Plant Gardens, dedicated by Lady Bird Johnson in 1979.
Kennett Square was in the middle of what may have been the nation's largest concentration of Underground Railroad sites -- more than a dozen within an 8-mile radius. Today, the Kennett Underground Railroad Center is dedicated to educating the public about the movement that helped thousands of slaves escape to freedom. It includes exhibits, a narrated Heritage Trail Tour, dramas and lectures. In November 2010, the center unveiled a new mural depicting abolitionist Harriet Tubman leading freedom seekers toward the North Star and listing Kennett Square residents who provided safe houses for the escaped slaves.
Also surrounding Kennett Square is the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, created in 2004, when a small group of local wineries joined forces. The wineries are all within a 50-mile radius, making it easy to drive from one to the next. All are open year-round, and visitors can purchase a "passport" to tastings at special events. These include the July 4th Big Bang BBQ weekend, the fall Harvest Festival, mulled wine weekends in December and Barrels on the Brandywine in March. "Sip & Stay Getaway" packages, which include accommodations at participating local lodgings, are also available.
