Nowhere else in the world is there a setting that marries fountains, theater, and garden, establishing the Longwood Gardens' Main Fountain Garden as the finest performance fountain in the world. After a three-year renovation by an all-star-cast of designers, this legendary space reopened to the public in the summer of 2017. The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Philadelphia Chapter is pleased to offer a private tour of the new Main Fountain Garden, led by individuals who worked on the major rehabilitation for the 80 year-old complex, which had been chronically compromised by numerous mechanical problems and aging infrastructure. Guests will also be given access to the pumphouse plaza, lobby, and tunnels―areas typically not made available to the public.
The tour will begin at 5:30PM and will offer guests the full context of the renovation project, covering such topics as stone restoration, horticulture, the innovation behind the new fountains, the inclusion of the grotto, and a rare peek into the tunnel infrastructure. Following the tour, guests are invited to enjoy the gardens—tickets include admission to Longwood’s celebrated Festival of Fountains performance once the sun sets.