'Downton Abbey' exhibit breaks record

‘Downton Abbey’ exhibit breaks record

Posted by Press Release on December 12, 2014

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library welcomed its 200,000^th visitor for 2014 on Friday, Dec. 12 - a record in a single year. The unprecedented number of guests visiting the former country estate of Henry Francis du Pont is approximately double Winterthur's annual average and is largely attributable to the blockbuster exhibition, "Costumes of Downton Abbey."

Winterthur Museum & Gardens attributes the doubling of its attendance rate to the 'Downton Abbey' exhibit. — Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library attributes the doubling of its attendance rate to the popularity of its 'Downton Abbey' exhibit.

"When we decided to curate an exhibition on 'Downton Abbey,' the hit PBS series embodying the British counterpart to H.F. du Pont's American country estate, we knew it would be popular and we are delighted that has proved to be the case," said Dr. David Roselle, director of Winterthur. "We are planning additional exhibits and programs that we believe will appeal to lots of Winterthur's members and friends."

"Costumes of Downton Abbey"compares and contrasts the fictional British world of Downton Abbey with the real-life American counterpart Winterthur in the first half of the 20th century. Arranged by time of day, the exhibition features 40 costumes plus jewelry from the smash PBS show along with clothing, silver, travel trunks, and other items of H.F. and Ruth Wales du Pont.

The exhibit has attracted visitors from nearly every corner of the United States and travelers from China, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Scotland, Australia, Germany, France, England, Ireland, Canada, Nova Scotia, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and more.

Organized chronologically, "Costumes of Downton Abbey" enables visitors to experience a typical day and evening in the life of the Crawley and du Pont families. Visitors enter past a working recreation of the bell system of Downton Abbey. Throughout the exhibition, iconic costumes from the show, including Lady Mary's engagement dress, Lady Edith's wedding dress, Lady Sybil's harem pants, and others, are on display with photos and vignettes. Servants' uniforms and livery are contrasted with elegant tweeds, sumptuous tea gowns, and elaborate evening clothes.

"Yuletide at Winterthur," the annual exhibition celebrating the holiday traditions of H.F. du Pont and his family, opened with a Downton Abbey twist on Nov. 22. Both exhibits will run through Jan. 4, when Winterthur will close to the public for the winter season. It will reopen on March 1, and members are free to visit the Winterthur garden and estate during the winter break.

For more information, please visit winterthur.org.