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,
and until 6:30pm Friday evenings.

Parking reservations are not required on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Friday Late Closings

Open until 8pm May 3 through
August 30.

Picnicking is permitted only in the picnic areas except on Friday evenings from 4-8pm, guests may picnic anywhere in the garden.
We ask guests to carry out what they bring in.

Early Saturdays in 2024

We open at 8:00am on August 3,
September 7, October 5, and November 2 for early entrance in 2024.

2024 Season Pass

Purchase a 2024 Season Pass, good through November 3, 2024.

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

Once Upon a Garden:
Storytime at Chanticleer

Story Time will be held at 9:30am,
on July 20, August 10 .
Registration is required.

Woody Plant Conference

Friday, July 19, 2024 at the
Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College.
Register here.

Perennial Plant Conference

Friday, October 18, 2024 at the
Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College.
Register here.

Workshops at Chanticleer

Chanticleer hosts many workshops at the garden. View the list here.

Chanticleer Emails

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Chanticleer In the News

High praise from 6ABC, WNEP, and The New York Times.

Chanticleer is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for the public and is an equal opportunity employer.