The Water Tower, a nearly 90-foot-tall stone structure designed to resemble a fairy tale castle and echo centuries-old European castles, was built to hold 18,000 gallons of water for bathing, cooking, and cleaning in the mansion. Its Seth Thomas clock, installed in 1919, chimed the hour. No longer in use, it has become a symbol of hope and courage for patients in Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Between its base and the Horseshoe Fountain stretches the tapis vert, or "green carpet," a sloping lawn lined with boxwood plants and bordered by rows of juniper trees. To the east, a large open field gave the duPonts a place to shoot traps, and a mile-long drive to the mansion created an unrivaled approach that emphasized the estate's unusual immensity while drawing attention to the lofty tower and its picturesque effect on the sweeping landscape.

Photo: Devry Becker Jones (CC0)

Photo: Devry Becker Jones (CC0)