2006 - Nemours

Nemours Mansion and GardensAlfred I. duPont’s Last Will and Testament is more than a legal document describingthe disposition of assets: it is a statement, or testament, to his values and a trustplaced in the hands of his trustees. He was not concerned just with his physicalbelongings, but also for the memorials he erected left in honor of his forebearers.During the past two years, much effort has been expended to meet Mr. duPont’svision for the Mansion and Gardens.Restoration began with the removal of all contents of the building—totaling more than 110,000 objects. Expertscatalogued the items and placed them in museum-quality storage. With the house empty, construction work beganin earnest. Contractors waterproofed the foundation, completed all roof work and installed new air handlers and anew low-mist, fire suppression system. More than 15,000 feet of new wiring was pulled forthe restoration. Additionally, workers removed the front balustrade, cleaned andre-installed it, and removed and re-laid both the front and back terraces.Work also began on the new Visitor Center with clearing of the site.Approximately 20,000 cubic yards of rock and soil were removed tomake way for the new structure.The most visible project, however, was re-gilding “Achievement,” the16-foot-tall statue that has been the centerpiece of the view from the Mansionto the Colonnade since the 1930s. The original gilding had disappeared overthe years. In 2006, the statue by French sculptor Henri Crenier was cleaned,repaired and new 23-karat gold leaf applied. Today, it appears just as it didin Mr. duPont’s lifetime.The restoration of the Mansion and Gardens and construction of the VisitorCenter will continue through 2007 with the re-opening to visitors in May 2008.At the re-opening we will clearly demonstrate that we have been true to the trustMr. duPont placed in our hands for the care of his home and the finest Frenchgardens in North America. ■46 2006 Nemours Annual Report