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The Longwood Garden was originally purchased fromWilliam Penn in 1700 by a fellow Quaker named GeorgePeirce (1646 - 1734). Although it started as a workingfarm, in 1798 Joshua and Samuel Peirce planted the firstspecimens of an arboretum. By 1850 they had amassed oneof the finest collections of trees in the nation.

Industrialist Pierre S. du Pont, (1870–1954) purchased theproperty from the Peirce family in 1906 to save thearboretum from being sold for lumber. From 1906 until the1930s, du Pont added extensively to the property. A world traveler from an early age, du Pont was often inspired toadd features to the garden after attending world's fairs, themost notable additions being the massive conservatorycomplete with pipe organ, and the extensive system offountains.

After the completion of the fountains, du Pontbegan planning for the sustained level ofLongwood Gardens after his death. He founded theLongwood Foundation in 1937, and in 1946 thefoundation was chartered with running LongwoodGardens for the general education and enjoymentof the public.