The Main Fountain Garden reflects the legacy and vision of founder Pierre S. du Pont, combining classic garden design with spectacular fountains, music, and on special occasions fireworks. Since its debut in 1931, it has united artistry and engineering on a scale and grandeur that were astonishing at the time, and it remains one of the most impressive fountain gardens in the world. Du Pont favored the idea of gardens as theatre, and at Longwood this was the most theatrical expression of that idea. The fountains include 1,719 jets and streams, with the tallest reaching 175 feet, while at night color transforms the display and thirty jets can ignite flames. Du Pont's vision and engineering shaped the original fountain systems, and a 2017 renovation added new tunnels, mechanical infrastructure, and controls. Behind the garden, mature trees form a backdrop for the large fountain features, while inside an allee of trees and boxwood hedges frames European-inspired architecture, hand-carved Italianate limestone sculptures, and smaller fountains.
