No shortage of museums in Chesco

Columnist Bill Rettew Jr. runs down the gamut of great museums available in Chester County.

Who doesn’t enjoy compiling lists?

When preparing to travel, everything I take with me is painstakingly documented, and then when packed, it’s checked off of a tattered list.

So, it is with great pleasure that I present a list (with bullet points) of many of Chester County’s wonderful museums.

These museums are presented in no particular order and I apologize in advance if I neglected to mention your favorite museum.

• Chester County Historical Society, The highlight here is certainly the 19 grandfather, or tall, clocks lined up side by side. And there are wonderful temporary exhibits. Don’t miss Downingtown Artist Adrian Martinez’s show of large paintings detailing early American history. (www.chestercohistorical.org 225 N. High St. West Chester)

• Wharton Esherick Museum, A wonderful tour of wood carvings created by a master craftsman. I especially enjoy the music stands designed for the Philadelphia Orchestra. (www.whartonesherickmuseum.org, 1520 Horse Shoe

Trail, Malvern)

• Longwood Gardens, almost hidden at the world famous gardens is Pierre S. du Pont’s home featuring many prime exhibits highlighting local history. (www.longwoodgardens.org 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square)

• Christian C. Sanderson Museum, A mishmash of amazing stuff. Helen Keller’s autograph, a piece of carpet from a Lincoln inauguration, some Revolutionary cannon

balls, and yes, some of George Washington’s hair collected by a barber. ww.sandersonmuseum.org 1755 Creek Road, Chadds Ford)

• Brandywine River Museum of Art, Three generations of Wyeth’s work hang at this converted grist mill on the Brandywine Creek. Take the three tours, of Andy’s and N.C.’s studios and the Kuerner Farm, where Andy created more than 1,000 paintings. You can easily, or maybe not, imagine what the Wyeths’ local subjects were thinking when posing. (www. brandywine.org 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds

Ford)

• The National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum, Everything about Lukens Steel, the pride of Coatesville, in a grand building. On display is part of the World Trade Center that was actually made here. If you’re lucky you might be able to hear the clangs and bangs of nearby steelworkers at work. (www.steelmuseum.org 50 S. 1st Ave., Coatesville)

• Antique Ice Tool Museum, My most recent discovery. Take a world class museum tour with a knowledgeable guide. Will be featured in a future Small Talk column. (www.AntiqueIceToolMuseum.org 825 Sconnelltown Rd., West Chester)

• Brandywine Battlefield, a cute little museum on hallowed ground in the state park. Features several Revolutionary weapons

and personal items (www.brandywinebattlefield.org 1491 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford)

• American Helicopter Museum, What else, but helicopters? Combine a trip here with a tour of neighbor QVC. (American-helicopter.museum 1220 American Blvd., West Chester)

• Hopewell Furnace, check out the museum and film, and then explore the old village. Or, pick your own apples. (www.nps.gov 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson)

• Historic Sugartown, There’s lot’s going on here. They’ve done a great job of preserving these historic buildings, both inside and out, at a former major crossroads. (www.historicsugartown.org 690 Sugartown Road, Malvern)

• Barns-Brinton House, 1714 tavern, accessible

through Chadds Ford Historical Society (630 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford)

• John Chads’ House, try some bread baked authentically onsite. Like the Barns-Brinton Tavern, the Chadds Ford Historical Society runs this one. (www. chaddsfordhistory.org 1719 N. Creek Rd., Chadds Ford)

• Chadds Ford Historical Society, There is a ton of history in this region. Chadds Ford is packed with cool stuff for historians to explore. This is a good jumping off point for culture and history in the area. And don’t miss the Revolutionary cannon ball dent in a field stone building on the property. (1736 N. Creek Road, Chadds Ford)

• Historic Yellow Springs, Get out into beautiful Chester County countryside. Regular classes and workshops offered here. (www.yellowsprings.org 1685 Art School Road, Chester Springs)

• Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area, Based in a historic church, there’s lots to learn here about Phoenixville. Check out some of the collection’s 300 pieces of majolica pottery. (www.phoenixvillehistoricalsociety.org 204 Church St., Phoenixville)

• Valley Forge National Historical Park Visitor

Center, start your tour of the park here. This is a great way to learn about the encampment. This might actually be located in Montgomery County but who is keeping track? (www.nps.gov Mailing address: 1400 N. Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia)

• Schuylkill River Heritage Center at Phoenixville, It’s impossible to decide whether the old foundry building is more impressive than the displays, which include a huge wooden crane. Learn here about the rise of the Phoenix. (www.phoenixvillefoundry.org 2 N. Main St., Phoenixville)

• Chester County Art Association, Top-notch art on display and a great place to learn. (www.chestercountyarts.org 100 N. Bradford Ave., West Chester)

As the weather turns chilly, museums are a super way to beat the cold, though it’s still OK to visit on a sunny day. See you there.

PHOTOS BY BILL RETTEW — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The Chester County Historical Society is a gem in the heart of West Chester.

The world-famous Brandywine River Museum sits on the bank of the body of water from which it takes its name in Chadds Ford.