Important Dates A Timeline Connecting Longwood , Aldo Leopold, and Chester County

16 81 1870 1908 1964 2004 King Charles II gives a large piece Pierre S. du Pont is born in President Theodore Roosevelt establishes the Delaware Nature Society is founded to Governor James Doyle of his American land holdings Wilmington, Delaware. National Conservation Commission. At the end of foster understanding, appreciation, and signs legislation making the to to satisfy a debt his presidency, he had set aside over 230 million enjoyment of the natural world through first weekend in March Aldo the king owed to Penn’s father. acres of land for conservation, including 150 education; to preserve ecologically Leopold Weekend across This land includes present-day national forests, 51 federal bird refuges, 18 national significant areas; and to advocate Wisconsin. Pennsylvania and Delaware. monuments, and 5 national parks. stewardship and conservation of natural resources.

1705 1906 1917 1948 1967 2014 First recorded mention of Aldo Leopold begins Pierre S. du Pont purchases Aldo Leopold dies A group of local residents buys Longwood Gardens Kennett Township, part of coursework at Yale several adjoining farms that while helping to endangered land and founds the and natural a 30,000 acre tract of land Forest School (Master would later become the fight a grass fire on a Brandywine Conservancy. Today, the lands area is expanded given by William Penn to his of Forestry, 1909). Meadow area of Longwood neighbor’s farm near Conservancy holds more than 440 to provide more learning children. Gardens. the Shack. conservation easements and has opportunities. protected more than 45,000 acres in Chester and Delaware counties, Pennsylvania, and in New Castle County, Delaware.

1798 1906 1935 1954 2001 George Peirce’s twin great- Pierre S. du Pont buys Aldo Leopold acquires the Pierre S. du Pont dies. He Mt. Cuba Center opens as a public grandsons, Samuel and 200 acres of what had worn-out Wisconsin River ensures that Longwood botanical with a focus on Joshua, actively pursue an been the Peirce family’s farm (the Shack) that Gardens continues as a public native plants and ecosystems in 50 interest in natural history land to save the historic became his family’s own garden “for the sole use acres of display gardens and over and begin planting an Arboretum. ecological restoration of the public for purposes 500 acres of natural lands. arboretum that eventually experiment. of exhibition, instruction, covers 15 acres. education and enjoyment.”

1700 1887 1909 1949 1970s Quaker farmer George Peirce Aldo Leopold is born in Aldo Leopold joins U.S. Aldo Leopold’s book, A The Land Conservancy of Southern purchases 402 acres of Burlington, Iowa. Forest Service (est. 1905). Sand County Almanac, is Chester County is founded by a group land from William Penn’s published posthumously. of concerned citizens to ensure the commissioners. It becomes one of the perpetual preservation and stewardship cornerstones for modern of open space, natural resources, historic conservation science, policy, sites, and working agricultural lands and ethics. throughout Southern Chester County.