The Chanticleer Story
The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine chose the Wayne-St. Davids area to build their country retreat. The family's pharmaceutical firm would become part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.
The Rosengartens hired architect and former classmate Charles L. Borie to design the house, which was completed in 1913. Landscape architect Thomas Sears designed the terraces as extensions of the house. A 1924 addition converted the summer home into a year-round residence and the family moved here permanently.
Mr. Rosengarten's humor is evident in naming his home after the estate "Chanticlere" in Thackeray's 1855 novel The Newcomes. The fictional Chanticlere was "mortgaged up to the very castle windows" but "still the show of the county." Playing on the word, which is synonymous with "rooster," the Rosengartens used rooster motifs throughout the estate.
Adolph and Christine gave their two children homes as wedding presents. They purchased a neighboring property for son Adolph, Jr. and his bride Janet Newlin in 1933. It is now the site of the Ruin. Daughter Emily's house, located at today's visitor entrance, was built for her in 1935. It is presently used for offices and classrooms.
Adolph, Jr., bought his sister's portion of the estate following her death in the 1980s. He didn't move into the main house, but used it for entertaining and kept it as it was when the family lived there. The house is open for tours by reservation. Adolph, Jr., left the entire property for the enjoyment and education of the public following his death in 1990. A nine member Board of Directors, six of whom are Rosengarten relatives, oversees The Chanticleer Foundation. The garden opened to the public in 1993. There are 20 full-time staff, of whom two manage facilities and 14 are gardeners and groundskeepers.
Opening Times
Wednesday - Sunday
10am - 5pm
Make parking reservations here.
Parking reservations are required until
3pm Saturdays & Sundays.
Parking reservations are not required on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Early Saturdays in 2024
We open at 8:00am on November 2 for our last early entrance in 2024.
2025 Season Pass
Purchase a 2025 Season Pass, good through November 9, 2025. Buy your pass now and use it through the end of the 2024 season.
House and Garden Tours
Held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11am.
Learn more and register here.
Garden Highlights Tour
Held every Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm.
Learn more and register here.
End of Season
We are open until Sunday,
November 3, 2024.
News & Events
Workshops at Chanticleer
Chanticleer hosts many workshops at the garden. View the list here.
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Chanticleer is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for the public and is an equal opportunity employer.
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