The Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford is now listed as a National Historic Landmark. That announcement came July 5.

In a press release issued by the Brandywine Conservancy, the U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said that by designating the site, "we help meet the goals of President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative to establish a conservation ethic for the 21^st century and reconnect people, especially young people, to our nation's historic, cultural, and natural heritage."

The designation was made because of the farm’s ties to Andrew Wyeth who used the farm as inspiration for almost 1,000 of his works, from drawings to paintings.

Jim Duff, the executive director of the Brandywine Conservancy, said the process of getting the farm designated as a National Landmark took years. He said the conservancy made application for the farm’s inclusion about six years ago and had to testify before the Landmark Commission on behalf of the application last fall.

“We did what we had done before with the N.C. Wyeth property. That house and studio are also a National Landmark. In this area, also the 10 square miles of the Brandywine Battlefield are a National Historic Landmark,” Duff said.

The N. C. Wyeth house and studio received the recognition in December 1997.

Duff added that it’s normally a three to five year process, but part of the delay was Andy Wyeth.

“It was not possible for the Landmark Commission to vote, or even hear our testimony until after Andy’s death,” said Duff. “That’s the history part.”

Duff said he hopes the people of Chadds Ford will be proud of the fact that it has another historic landmark.

“It will draw additional public attention to the farm, without any question. The farm is declared a national historic landmark solely because of its intimate relationship with Andrew Wyeth. There is no other criteria here. It is Andrew Wyeth that drove the nomination,” Duff said.

Karl J. Kuerner, also an artist who studied with Andy Wyeth’s sister Carolyn, said he’s glad that the family farm is now a landmark and readily acknowledges the part Wyeth played. He also said the farm helped the artist, too.

“It’s prestigious, and it’s important to realize that it’s because of Andy, but he’s not the whole ball of wax. There’s a lot of history here and there are many other great artists in the area,” Kuerner said.

He added that there’s a lesson to be learned: “If [being named a National Historic Landmark] teaches you can create from anything, it’s worth it.”

Wyeth met the Kuerner family in his youth and was fascinated with the former German soldier who had moved into Chadds Ford. He eventually gained the Trust of Karl Kuerner Sr., who allowed the young artist to roam the property, even giving him access to the house.

Many of Wyeth's best-known works were set on the farm. They include Winter 1946 (1946), Groundhog Day (1959), Evening at Kuerners (1970), Young Bull (1960), Spring Fed (1967), and Overflow (1978).

Karl Kuerner Sr. died in 1979 at the age of 80 and his wife died 18 years later. The farm has been preserved through the efforts of their son and grandson, Karl Kuerner Jr. and Karl J. Kuerner, and the Brandywine Conservancy.

The Kuerner family gave the farm to the conservancy in 1999. About seven years ago the conservancy opened the property up to guided tours.