Holidays at Brandywine

November 16, 2024 - January 05, 2025
Family looking at train set
Photo © Philip Gabriel Photography
Boy with Brandywine Christmas train display
Photo by Carlos Alejandro
Kids looking at train display
Photo by Carlos Alejandro

A holiday favorite since 1972, the Brandywine Railroad features trains running on 2,000 feet of track and contains more than 1,000 pieces, including locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys that pass through a small village, a farm, factories, a drive-in movie theater and even a carnival.

A dazzling array of both toy and scale model trains can be seen chugging through the varied scenery, including those made by Lionel, Williams, Atlas, Mike’s Train House, K-line and others. Interactive components are also incorporated into the display to allow for further engagement.

Support for the Brandywine Railroad is provided by The Davenport Family Foundation Fund for Exhibitions, JPMorganChase, and Herr Foods.

Also on view

The Wonderful World of Wyeth Miniatures

November 16, 2024-January 5, 2025

Marvel at the miniature worlds created and loved by the Wyeth family in an exhibition highlighting the wonder shared by children and adults alike during this magical season. The holidays were a special time for the creative and imaginative Wyeth family, whose dollhouses and model railroads take center stage in this exhibition. Growing up in the Wyeth family encouraged a love of inventive play that stayed with the children their entire lives. 

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A small wood box with the words "It's another miniatures from the Wyeth Shops" written on the lid.

Ann Wyeth McCoy, the talented composer, pianist, and daughter of N.C. and Carolyn Wyeth, collected dolls her entire life. It was not until she was an adult that she had her first dollhouse, built by her husband, the artist John McCoy. One of the rooms from this captivating nine-foot-tall dollhouse is included in the exhibition. Outfitted with handmade furnishings, by both her husband and her brother, the inventor and model-maker Nat Wyeth, the rooms were originally decorated with miniature paintings by her sister and brother-in-law Henriette Wyeth and Peter Hurd as well as by her brother Andrew Wyeth. Several of Nat’s other miniature creations will be on view too, along with their hand-made crates, each carefully lettered: “It’s another miniature from the Wyeth shops.”

Also featured in the exhibition are model railroads beloved by the third generation of Wyeths, Nicholas and Jamie, sons of Andrew and Betsy James Wyeth. A marvelous standard gauge train belonging to Nicholas will be running in the gallery. Originally a Christmas present to him not in his childhood, but in 1976, it became a year-round feature in his home. Appearing on the layout are military miniatures collected by his father, Andrew. In addition, an N scale train, one of the smallest model trains, belonging to Jamie Wyeth will be on view and running. This set was a joint purchase with his friend Andy Warhol, in whom he found a kindred spirit filled with the spirit of childhood.