Much of the land is still used to farm for corn, soy, hay and dairy. House Finch. Longwood, which encompasses 1,077 acres, was created by Pierre S. du Pont, who served as head of both DuPont and General Motors. The 505-acre . Here youll find three dining options: 1906, a fine dining restaurant; grab-and-go options in The Caf with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating; and a beer garden sometimes featuring live music. That marked a 5% . Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, Airbnbs, Yurts, cabins, luxury hotels and many other places to sleep while traveling around the world. These properties, each uniquely different, help tell the stories of uber-wealthy folks who acquired and managed large homes and vast acreage. We also liked the way the old grist mill was modernized with floor to ceiling windows giving the museum lots of natural light in the common areas. We enjoyed viewing the Wyeths American paintings and illustrations as a look back to that era. Conclude your visit with a stop at the nearby historic Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery for a wine tasting. After years of decaying and complete abandonment, Nutts decedents donated the property to the Pilgrimage Garden Club in 1970, who preserved it and today manage the mansion as a museum and historic site. If overnighting near Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Portabellos is another great dinner option. There are no details yet for how the mansion will be used. Best Seafood near Longwood Gardens - Portabello's Restaurant, Hilltop Crab House, El Ranchero, Capt'n Chucky's Crab Cake, Carriage House Restaurant & Bar. . In recent decades, the du Pont family formed Granogue Reserve, LTD., LLC to create a plan that would prevent future development on the site. Pierre's vision for Longwood is evident at every turn: the Conservatory, carillon, topiary garden, Italian Water Garden, a massive pipe organ, and especially the Flower Garden Walk, which explodes in mid-April with . House for Rent. That process can take up to a year, Redman explained. Du Pont and Barbara, his wife of 77 years who died in 2021, were known for opening the grounds of their estate to local organizations for fundraisers, trail runs and mountain biking, as well as summer camps hosted by the Delaware Nature Society. All three estates are conveniently located within 10 miles of each other in northern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania. Inflation, taxes and family fortunes spread among several generations have made maintenance difficult. Home. montchanin.com
The acquisition continues a long history between Longwood Gardens and the du Pont family. His passions were gardening, collecting American furnishings and decorative arts, and breeding cattle on the property. Kennett Square. This area is located south Philadelphia, PA, and north of Wilmington, DE straddling both states. Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. 10927 S Longwood Dr #3 is currently priced at $2,100. 323 Route 52 (Kennett Pike), Chadds Ford, PA, 19357. Next, go to the Conservatory to see it during the daytime. If youre taking a break from the sun, or youre craving a getaway on a chillier day, the warmth of the airy, sunlit conservatory is a great place to consider the earliest beginnings of Longwood. Check their website for details and to purchase tickets. Brokerage. The other half of the lower level was devoted to affairs of running the mansion which included the kitchen, a room for pumping and filtering their own spring water (with a gas added for bubbled water), as well as an ice-making room. Learn how your comment data is processed. Centrally located within Longwood, the Peirce-du Pont House can be seen as an anchorthe home base for two very important stewards of this regions land (and the evolution of the Brandywine Valley). The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit that's worked in all 50 states to protect 8.5 million acres of land, helped facilitate the deal. Articles about GoNOMAD Travel, our staff, our business and what we do. 5105 Kennett Pike (Route 52), Wilmington, DE
His daughter later inherited it and built a house in 1839, naming it after her husbands ancestral home in Switzerland. ConcertHotels.com lists 39 Longwood Gardens Restaurants for you to choose from and reserve a table online, free of charge. Alfreds design included some new features for the time period including indoor bathrooms. A preliminary study assessing current site conditions and encompassing site master planning was developed in 2018-2019, "with a commitment for Granogue to remain a pastoral cultural landscape,'' Longwood said in a statement. Win-win. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the . House 8 mi to Longwood Gardens. Winterthur is open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; its closed on Monday. Yelp. Orchid House, as it appears in 2022. After Mr. du Pont purchased the property he spent years making the land into what can be said as one of the best botanical gardens in the country. With no clear plan on what to do with his new estate beyond saving the trees, but with a lifelong love for nature and gardens and a fascination for grand water fountains, Pierre expanded and improved his surroundings over the course of several decades. Each tour is approximately one hour long. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website appears in part through the BRIGHT Internet Data Exchange program, a voluntary cooperative exchange of property listing data between licensed real estate brokerage firms, and is provided by BRIGHT through a licensing agreement. Over a century later, famed baseball slugger Babe Ruth visited the house on this property as he was passing through on his way to visit friends and family elsewhere. Two Day Itinerary Exploring du Pont Estates, detailed visitor guide of Charlottesville, A Guide to the National Museum of Industrial History, A Guide to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Visit Nemours Estate, tour the mansion, and explore the gardens and grounds via tram or on foot. Pierre was so enamored with gardening and fountains that he incorporated many of his ideas, with inspiration from his European travels, in the displays that visitors see today. He wasn't involved in the actual meetings or anything, but I was the mole. Be sure to stop by the Library if time allows, and enjoy an outdoor walk to see some of the most beautiful azaleas found anywhere. His twin sons started an arboretum there naming it Pierces Park which was always open to the public. It has a mix of farmland, forest, pasture and meadow. winterthur.org
Plus, we are perfectly located adjacent to the world-renowned Longwood Gardens! Nemours Estate and Winterthur are located outside Wilmington, Delaware; Longwood Gardens is north of Winterthur in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Each property requires several hours to fully enjoy, so plan to spend at least two days if you plan to explore all three. The Longwood Foundation went on to expand the surrounding land into an 1,100-acre botanical garden the most-visited, paid public garden in the United States. We picked Longwood Garden as an afternoon visit because it closes at 6 PM versus other area attractions that close at 5 PM. Please contact us at 302.651.6913 for information. The $250 million seeds planted in Longwood Gardens' transformation project are finally starting to see a little sunlight.. Nemours Mansion and Gardens; Things to Do near Longwood Gardens. It is interesting to think about how construction was altered in the mansion to make this staircase work. Photo 1: Winterthur spring azaleas. At Longwood, the center of attention is not the mansion but the four-acre conservatory greenhouse that has different rooms for various plants, produce, bonsai trees, and flowers. Contact Patricia Talorico at ptalorico@delawareonline.com and follow her on Twitter @pattytalorico. Also, it should be noted that during summer Longwood stays open into the night on certain days. Hotels: . Although Longwood Gardens will own and operate Granogue, the Mt. If extending your visit to the area, consider these articles about nearby places: The two days that my husband and I spent exploring Longwood Gardens, Nemours Estate, and Winterthur were so relaxing and enjoyable. No food or drinks are available for purchase, so plan on bringing your own. He continued, "I want to extend our gratitude to the du Pont family who, in spite of increasing commercial pressure, chose to preserve this land for future generations.. You can also request a ride from the mansion to the chauffeurs garage. The home and the 200-acre grounds are gated. (Please do not call it a basement as our guide proclaimed). Messick Custom, KELLER WILLIAMS REAL ESTATE - WEST CHESTER, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. Now it seems like the whole scene is frozen in time. Purchase tickets online prior to your visit to ensure you have guaranteed admission upon arrival. Longwood Gardens was not publicized in those early days. Purchase mansion tour tickets online prior to your visit to ensure you have guaranteed admission upon arriving. 2023 www.delawareonline.com. Upon visiting the Orchid House, expect to see anywhere from 250 to 300 blooming orchids on any given day, alongside custom . In the early 1800s, E.I. Admission also includes access to the garden and walking trails, Enchanted Woods, and exhibitions. Number observed: 1. . Longwood Gardens Data Checklist version by Longwood Gardens Data; Success! This agreement is a huge deal for the fund and for conservation in general, Phillips explained, because Granogue is "the most important, unprotected big piece of property left in the Brandywine Valley.". 1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square, PA
. 610-388-1000, 800-737-5500
They used mainly the basement as their living space, because this part of the mansion provided the necessary conditions and safety for a normal life. From 1700 to 1906, the land was owned by the Peirce family, who in 1730 built the brick farmhouse that stands today. Its Main Garden Fountain, renovated in 2016, has become a year-round spectacle for visitors dazzled by its themed light shows. 1: "You don't have to just have a plain-Jane green plant.". prestel publishing submissions. Plan to walk the property a bit maybe to the reflecting pool outside the museum and to the Enchanted Garden a little further down the paved path. Spectators lined fences and fields along Smith Bridge and Thompson's Bridge roads to watch the display. Longwood Gardens is the most visited paid public garden in America. As he created a warm and welcoming homestead for his new life at Longwood, other plans for the land were percolating, and in the spring, his love of gardening inspired the creation of Flower Garden Walk as well as the Round Fountain. Within the 979 acres preserve is 60 acres set aside as one of the best natural gardens in the country. Behind the fabulous curtains made of white balconies and red bricks, there is literally nothing, expect a heartbreaking story. You will certainly find the occasional animal visitor crossing your path during a trip to Longwood Gardens, but it is the plants that remain the primary attraction. For dinner, Krazy Kats is a good choice and is located near Nemours and Winterthur. Henry, who was born at Winterthur, took responsibility for managing the estate in 1914 and set the example for living a farm-to-table lifestyle a century before it would become a common phrase. This smoke-free hotel features 2 restaurants, a bar/lounge, and a gym. "Here we are in 2023, we're invoking that same legacy and spirit of conservation to save this important piece of land that is connected to so many other parts of the Brandywine Valley that are already conserved," Redman said. Of course, you can visit them in any order you want to or just pick which one most interests you! $127. Be sure to include a tour of the original house built by Joshua Peirce, and then revel in the magic of the gardens and fountains. These are without doubt the first impressions that come to mind after the quick look at the monumental house known as Longwood, located on a hillside in the city of Natchez, Mississippi, near the border with Louisiana. Longwood officials declined to say how much they agreed to pay for the estate, which is 8 miles from the gardens near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Longwood Gardens has not revealed any conceptual plans for possible attractions or what future visitation of the Granogue Reserve will look like for the public at this time. $122. A beautiful antebellum mansion hidden behind a few old and lush trees, and probably many stories that silently dwell in and around this precious piece of architecture. Longwood Gardens comes alive at Christmas with special displays and events beginning in mid-November through early January. Hagley Museum and Library. Longwood Gardens, the nearly 1,100-acre botanical garden in southern Chester County, has agreed to acquire the Granogue estate, 505 acres of rolling woods and farmland and a hilltop stone mansion, along the Brandywine in nearby northern Delaware. Longwood is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places . Zillow has 14 homes for sale in 19348 matching Longwood Gardens. . The 157 jets at the center of the one-acre pool shoot . My husband and I enjoyed our visits to these three amazing properties over two days. Tues-Sat, 10 am to 5 pm;
The cheapest way to get from Longwood Gardens to Winterthur costs only $1, and the quickest way takes just 14 mins. (The museum shop is located on the first floor of that cottage.) 2.9 Miles. ft. 4844 Longwood Ave, HOLIDAY, FL 34690 $267,900 MLS# T3429698 Welcome to this spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1 car garage, corner lot home, in move-in con. Andre Lamar is a features/lifestyle reporter. Near the center of the property is du Ponts home where you can learn about his life and understand Longwoods history. The two elk at the top of the Vista are the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier (1855-1924), a specialist in animal figures. A stunning mansion featuring the most significant collection of American . Although all three properties are special in their history and design, the Nemours Estate was like a hidden gem because its probably the least well-known of the three. Lined with Japanese cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks, the Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool. Reservations are required for groups of 15 or more. Giving the public a peek at Granogue was a tradition started by his father, Irne Sr., who with two brothers Pierre S. and Lammot du Pont served as president of the Wilmington-based DuPont Co. Discussions about Longwood Gardens, which is in East Marlborough Township, Chester County, becoming the steward of the Granogue Reserve began in 2016. du Pont and are listed (in this article) in the order mentioned in my suggested, two-day itinerary. Note: Tickets determine arrival time, buy early so you wont be disappointed. There is also an education center adjacent to the mansion for graduate studies. OPEN SUN, 1PM TO 3PM. To the delight of his nieces and nephews, he installed a bowling alley in the basement as well as a glass-bottomed fish pond built at ground level, providing a unique skylight for anyone who was engaged in a basement-bowling competition. St. Joseph Plantation, Vacherie, LA. Inn at Whitewing Farm. du Pont started the company that still bears his name today. Rooms Overview . Between 1929 and 1931, he expanded the mansion into one of the grandest homes in America, in part to house this unparalleled collection of American decorative arts and furniture, and over the next two decades continued to expand and improve the mansion and the grounds. Granogue was the home of Irne "Brip" du Pont Jr., an engineering executive and heir to the . Be sure to leave time to explore the 15+ acres of gardens and grounds, where a spring meander through this beautiful landscape is priceless. Historical documents from the era show that more than a million bricks were used for the construction. 302-888-4600, 800-448-3883
Find out more about Wilmington Delaware on GoNOMAD. While area developers would have liked to get their hands on the prime real estate, representatives for du Pont began talks with Longwood in 2016 about preserving Granogue's rich natural heritage. 26 days ago. No timetable is set for when the public . Sleeps 4 (0 reviews) Free cancellation up to 14 days before check-in . du Pont, but it was Henry Francis du Pont who had the vision and creativity to create the Winterthur we see today. Courtesy of Winterthur, photo by Jeannette Lindvig. Some properties which appear for sale on the website may no longer be available because they are for instance, under contract, sold or are no longer being offered for sale. Cuba Center and the Longwood Foundation provided generous support to help fund the acquisition, Longwood officials explained. Additionally, du Pont family members contributed funds to establish a permanent endowment for future operations and advancement of the vision for Granogue, they said. General Admission prices: $22 Adult. Alfred du Pont (1864-1935) built this home in 1909 and named it Nemours after the familys ancestral home in France. He set about improving the property, adding several features including the Conservatory, the Italian Water Garden, and the topiary garden. Dinner is $95/person and served 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM. She visited Winterthur in 1961 to view the vast collection here and to discuss ideas that would work in the Presidents house. Here Mr. du Pont installed a 10,010 pipe organ along with the 72-horsepower motor that kept the air flowing to it. Arguably the most famous family to have lived and worked the Brandywine Valley, the du Ponts built several magnificent estates in the Wilmington area that are open to the public. Visiting the Brandywine region in Delaware and Pennsylvania is an easy and affordable two night trip to some of the best mansions and largest gardens in the United States. Soak up education and history at this historical landmark. What makes this staircase unique was its complete free-flowing circular design. It was planted as a winter garden and was the first indoor display area at Longwood. Book your reservations online well ahead of time, if interested in visiting during this time. Afterward, we were shuttled to the mansion where our group was broken down to six people or less. While it sounds strange, it is interesting to look at. Zillow has 31 single family rental listings in Longwood FL. On or near Longwood Gardens: There are no brightly colored annuals here. 11361 W Plainfield Rd. Pierre soon hired a property manager to address the necessary care for the arboretum and the . It came to an abrupt halt in 1861 when word reached the workmen that the War Between the States (aka Civil War) had begun. The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit, helped survey the site and develop a master plan to maintain the property's pastoral beauty. Nemours has some of the best examples of French-inspired formal gardens anywhere in North America and is spectacular in the early season. du Ponts great-grandson Pierre S. du Pont, and just a 25-minute drive from Wilmington. per night. While detailed plans for how Longwood will use the property are not yet available, officials said their primary goal is to conserve the land. Purchase tickets online or call 800.448.3883 x7029. 2,638 Sq. If you have an interesting story idea, email Andre Lamar atalamar@gannett.com. After visiting Longwood Gardens, a trip to a nearby winery, Galer Vineyards & Winery (700 Folly Hill Road, Kennett Square) may be a relaxing way to unwind and reflect on all youve experienced on the du Pont properties. On the unfinished floors, tools, materials and paint buckets still lay scattered around, left by the workers at the dawn of the Civil War. It has 11 bedrooms for family members and six for live-in employees. Check the times when you get your admission ticket and get a seat on the large veranda in front of the conservatory to enjoy it. . Discover how to get to attractions and hotels near Greenville. Many in the prominent du Pont family were committed to historic preservation, had strong interests in horticulture and agriculture, and carried a penchant for philanthropy. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. Galer Estate is open Friday and Saturday 12-8pm and Sunday 12-7pm. Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Chadds Ford. ), Visit Winterthur in northern Delaware, a 15-minute drive from Nemours Estate. An example of this is what is called the Montmorenci staircase that came from a North Carolina plantation of that name that was about to be demolished. Previously, the Peirce family owned the land and had constructed a house in 1730. Over the years, the du Ponts often put on fireworks displays for the public to view at the estate and hosted events for local organizations. Tables are set for groups of 2 to 6 people. Pine trees near the mansion must be 200 years old and there are rhododendrons that are as big as small houses. In exclusive interviews, Longwood officials said they would announce Wednesday that it has entered into a binding agreement with Granogue Reserve Ltd. LLC to buy and operate du Pont's estate in northern New Castle County. Winterthur has several. Fairfield Inn by Marriott Kennett Square Brandywine Valley. More than 1,900 family members were expected to attend. The Longwood Foundation was established in 1937 to ensure the property, now a 1,100-acre botanical garden, would forever be open to the public. 70 reviews. Offered at the Museum from May through November is a tour to N.C. Wyeths Home and Studio as well the Kuerner Farm (which served as an inspiration for almost 1,000 works by Andrew Wyeth). Price cut: $34,900 (Jan 28) 1040 Waverly Dr, Longwood, FL 32750. , Your email address will not be published. Courtesy Hagley Museum and Library. 107 Pineapple Ct, Longwood, FL 32750. is one of the largest, privately-owned, open spaces of its kind in the Brandywine River corridor. Nemours sits on 300 acres of land. This tragedy took away his health immediately. Three of the grandest Longwood, Winterthur, and Nemours - are in close proximity and excellent options for a spring daytrip or weekend getaway. Required fields are marked *. By David Sleasman and Jennifer Fazekas, on February 22, 2023, By Kyle Post, Allison Edmonds, and Kinga Obartuch, on February 15, 2023, By Kristina Aguilar and Beth Pantuliano, on January 25, 2023, By Danny Cox and Ryan Gott, on January 18, 2023, Water Management Solutions for Your Landscape, Community Read: A Conversation with Author Bryant Terry, Sharing Our Underground Railroad Connection, From Rust to Regeneration in the Steel City. Location. Explore all aspects of lodging in this section. To resolve this feeling of bleakness, Pierre constructed a small conservatory as part of an addition to the main house. Your email address will not be published. Complete information for Nemours can be found at www.nemoursmansion.org. Check the daily schedule upon arrival to learn the times of the various fountain shows. Longwood Gardens travel guide 2023: What you need to know if you go. Richard Donham / Longwood Gardens. During the Christmas season, you can reserve a special lunch or dinner here, and YUM the menus look so good. He was so fond of Winterthurs farm goods, and he knew how they had been grown or raised, that he had them shipped by train when he was at his other residences. Pierre S. du Pont purchased the property in 1906 that he would eventually name Longwood. Grace Engbring, the daughter of Irne and Barbara, said her parents' intention was to keep the Granogue Reserve a bucolic site for people to enjoy. While Winterthur can look like hoarders took over, Nemours is kept up as if the owners were ready to return from their Florida estate and take up residence again. Hours of Operation. Galers wines are delicious, and theres a bit of interesting history on the grounds as well. Your email address will not be published. This includes assessing the plant communities and ecosystems on the estate, he said. The News Journal reported Wednesday that the estate is estimated to beworth more than $50 million. About the ratings: GreatSchools ratings are based on a comparison of test results for all schools in the state. They lived at Nemours through his death in 1935 and hers in 1970. 302-888-2133. For listings in Canada, the trademarks REALTOR, REALTORS, and the REALTOR logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. 3 bds; 2 ba; 1,996 sqft - House for rent. 10. Longwood Gardens, pictured above, will acquire Granogue Reserve, a longtime du Pont family estate in New Castle County, Delaware. As it turned out, Alicia died in 1920, and Alfred then married Jessie Bell, and they lived here until their deaths. Longwood first needs to complete the process of getting more familiar with the mansion and grounds to understand Granogue better. Longwood, the largest octagonal house in the United States, is an historic antebellum mansion located in Natchez, Mississippi. There are no immediate plans to make the Granogue Reserve open to the public, but Longwood officials told the News Journal their goal is to eventually welcome a level of visitation that still allows for the estate to be preserved. We no longer require a reservation and have self-guided tours in place. 888-272-5013or330-892-5105. Longwood Gardens. $1,500 /mo 3 Beds, 1 Bath. All rights reserved |Privacy Policy. Near Longwood Gardens! du Pont) emigrated from France in 1800 with his family. In the courtyard, each of the four walls came from the outside of a home from four different early American buildings that were about to be demolished. 4 bds; 3 ba; 2,140 sqft Whether you're traveling with friends, family, or even pets, Vrbo vacation homes have the best amenities for hanging out with the people that matter most, including swimming pools and gardens and backyards. Current prices are $25 for adults and $13 for youth during most of the year and $30 for adults, and $16 for youth during the holiday special. Yuletide admission prices: In 1992, the house was closed for additional renovations and to prepare for the opening of the Heritage Exhibit. . But this remarkable structure, which proudly possesses the unofficial title as the largest octagonal shaped house in the U.S.A., and possibly in the world, is only an empty shell. Admission to the upgraded tour includes the standard tour. The property information being provided on or through the website is for the personal, non-commercial use of consumers and such information may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. TuesSun, 10:00am5:00pm
Longwood set a visitation record in fiscal year 2022, welcoming 1.6 million guests. For lunch, both Longwood Gardens and Winterthur have good options. After decades of struggling to maintain the mansion, they left theirunfinished home for good at the end of the 19th century. . He was the great-great-grandson of DuPont Co. founder leuthre Irne du Pont de Nemours. The land and century-old mansion belonged to Irne du Pont Jr., who died in December at 103, and his wife, Barbara, who died in 2021. Also parts of columns lie down on the floor, waiting for their workers who never returned. The du Pont family has long had a connection to Longwood. That house still stands today, and visitors are welcome to tour it. The family suffered great financial losses during the war. Following that, Alfred remade a fortune by investing and building in Florida, a new frontier (at the time) for investment to attract vacationers and other folks. This makes Brandywine an easy drive for people from Washington D.C. to Boston. Chaddsford Winery; Brandywine Picnic Park; Brandywine River Museum; Chadds Ford Village & Barn Shops; studio an interesting way to see how the artist worked and lived. This makes Brandywine an easy drive for people from Washington D.C. to Boston. Apply. Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, 19348, PA. Hotels Reviews Dining. His wife, Julia, and their eight children lived there until her death in 1897. In subsequent years, the du Pont family expanded into other areas including chemical manufacturing. He worked in the familys gunpowder business until he was forced out of his role by a family relationship that soured. Conservatory District (includes acres of gardens protected from the elements)). Enjoy GoNOMAD Travel stories about the United States right here. This browser is no longer supported. Pierre bought the land in 1909 to save it from development and . . Property information displayed is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. For details go to www.longwoodgardens.org. For the most part, the grounds are designed to look completely natural. In fact, Alfred created this estate as a wedding gift for his second wife, Alicia Bradford, incorporating French architectural styles she so admired. Hundreds of years before there was a vineyard here, this was the site of a British military encampment during the American Revolutionary Wars Battle of Brandywine. What made that visit especially enjoyable for me was that visitors are able to tour the public rooms used for entertaining and family life on the first floor, the bedrooms upstairs, and the basement where they entertained in the bowling alley and billiards room. Named in honor of the year Pierre purchased Longwood, the menu has a wide range of locally-sourced starters, salads and seasonal soups, and entres that include Skuna Bay Salmon, Steak Frites, and Portobello Grilled Cheese. A unique combination of specialized areas including the 24-ft-long thermal vacuum chamber, 40-ft-tall high bay payload assembly areas, two-story anechoic chamber, clean rooms and customized .