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.
Closed for the Season
Opening April 1, 2026
Opening Day is April 1, 2026, and the garden will be open Wednesday to Sunday, through November 8, 2026.
2026 Season Pass Membership
Purchase a Season Pass Membership, good for the 2026 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.
News & Events
Chanticleer In the News
High praise from The London Times.
Lenny Wilson's ‘‘Fashioned by Nature’’ featured on 6abc and at Chanticleer this autumn.
Timothy Erdmann joins Summer Rayne Oakes on her channel
‘‘Plant One On Me’’.
Biodiversity Survey
We are proud to announce the release of our Biodiversity Survey, which outlines the impact that our garden has on the insect and animal populations that we intersect with.
Listen to Bill Thomas on Margaret Roach's podcast, A Way to Garden, as they discuss the Biodiversity Survey.
Read the Full Report
Chanticleer Emails
Stay current - Sign up
Chanticleer is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for the public and is an equal opportunity employer.
Social Media
Friends
