Bronx
New York
Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center
History of Wave Hill
Wave Hill House was built as a country home in 1843 by jurist William Lewis Morris. From 1866-1903 it was owned by William Henry Appleton, who enlarged the house in 1866-69 and again in 1890. A publishing scion, Appleton brought to Wave Hill such pioneering natural scientists as Thomas Henry Huxley. Huxley was astounded by the site, declaring the Palisades across the river one of the world's greatest natural wonders.
Theodore Roosevelt's family rented Wave Hill during the summers of 1870 and ‘71, when the future president was a youth of 12 and 13. Teddy's time here significantly deepened his love of nature and love of the outdoors that would later prompt him to secure the preservation of millions of acres of American parkland.
Mark Twain leased the estate from 1901-1903, setting up a treehouse parlor in the branches of a chestnut tree on the lawn. Of winter at Wave Hill he wrote, I believe we have the noblest roaring blasts here I have ever known on land; they sing their hoarse song through the big tree-tops with a splendid energy that thrills me and stirs me and uplifts me and makes me want to live always.
Mission
Wave Hill is a 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades. Its mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscapes, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.
Upcoming Events at Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center
Recent News
Save the Date - Wave Hill's Gala is May 30, 2024
Save the Date WAVE HILL'S Lente Gala THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024 Celebrate Lente Dutch for spring in Wave Hill’s beautiful gardens on Thursday, May 30 as we honor Tom de Witte, Netherlands based international landscape designer, and kick-off…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - January 16, 2024
A sensory experience I encourage in the Garden, is a gentle touch of bark. Using fingertips, I gently trace the grooves and ridges, the topography of a trunk, and in doing so I create a connection with the tree and heighten our moment together. It…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - January 2024
January at Wave Hill In the Gardens With colder temperatures, many visitors spend more of their Wave Hill visit indoors in the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory, which is made up of three houses: a central Palm House, a western Tropical…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - December 21, 2023
Wave Hill is pleased to announce the 2024 Winter Workspace program! The program offers two, back-to-back, six-week sessions for 12 New York area-artists to research and develop work informed by the site, ecology and history of Wave Hill. Artists are…
Read More »Find the Perfect Gift at The Shop at Wave Hill
It’s not too late to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list! We have a wonderful selection of holiday ornaments and décor, a fresh and exciting selection of botanically inspired jewelry, and luxurious bath and body products to…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - December, 2023
December at Wave Hill Our gardens and grounds have always been an oasis in the Bronx. And now, all are invited to escape the crowds, noise and stress of the winter holidays and to celebrate here with family and friends, surrounded by the natural…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - November 30, 2023
Our season-long celebration opens on Friday and we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome you to the festively dressed gardens. Artisan Market (FRI, SAT) The annual Artisan Market (Fri, 12–6PM & Sat, 11AM–6PM) was expanded, with more…
Read More »Winter Haven at Wave Hill Starts December 1, 2023
Our gardens and grounds have always been an oasis in the Bronx. And now, all are invited to escape the crowds, noise and stress of the winter holidays and to celebrate here with family and friends, surrounded by the natural beauty of Wave Hill. …
Read More »In The Garden Now: Fall Foliage Beyond the Trees
The fall foliage “season” at Wave Hill occurs approximately mid-October to mid-November. This month’s Garden Journal is not an argument for perennials and shrubs versus trees. Every plant has its place in the landscape; this is a…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - October 30, 2023
Fall Foliage Fest Friday through Tuesday, Nov 3 – 7 There's no better place in NYC to enjoy fall color than Wave Hill! Join us this week for artmaking, forest bathing and special fall foliage walks. Fall Foliage: Accessible Views from the…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center Announcing 23-24 Performing Arts Season!
Wave Hill’s 2023-2024 performing arts season is underway, with expanded offerings across artistic disciplines. This year’s programming welcomes Dance Heginbotham as artists in residence, a new indoor concert series, titled Roots and…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - October 18, 2023
Join us on Sunday, October 29, to experience the Day of the Dead. Delve into the rich traditions and vibrant spirit of this cherished Mexican cultural holiday for a day at Wave Hill filled with art, live music and immersive activities for all ages. …
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - October 3, 2023
Fall Birding at Wave Hill Fall is peak migration time along the Hudson River and we have a front row seat! Birders of all skill levels are invited to engage with birds large and small in our fall gardens. Registration is required for all adult…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - October 2023
In the Gardens Jewel tones abound in the October garden. Tender perennials put forth their last sets of blooms and berries darken, as the weather cools, on a range of shrubs and trees throughout the gardens. Come revel in the kaleidoscope of fall…
Read More »In The Garden Now: Praise The Pollinators
The gardens buzz with life on sunny summer days. Charged by the sun, thousands of pollinators flit between flowers, toiling away as they sip on nectar and collect pollen. Flowering plants today owe their diversity and success to their pollinator…
Read More »End-Of-Season Sale At The Shop Starts Aug 31
Join us at The Shop at Wave Hill beginning on August 31 as we start our end-of-season sale. A wonderful selection of clearance items is 50% off and more! Choose from an assortment of jewelry, accessories, bath and body products and books and cards,…
Read More »September at Wave Hill: Labor Day, Art and Wellness at the Aquatic Garden and More
September at Wave Hill In the Gardens A signature of Wave Hill’s talented horticulturists is their ability to extend the garden’s appeal beyond what one would expect from a garden in early fall. By using a sophisticated plant palette…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - Shady Greens: Plants at the Entrance Walk and Shade Border
The color green has many faces, like a 100-sided die. When looking across long beds of shade plants amongst the Entrance Walk, the newest garden area, and Shade Border, at the north end of the garden, I see many of these green-facets and varying…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - August 2023
August at Wave Hill As the heat and humidity persist, plants and gardeners alike can start to languish in the August haze; but at Wave Hill, our gardens continue to thrive, as do our extraordinary gardeners and interns—fiercely working to…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - July 19, 2023
Discover one of NYC’s beautiful secrets With intimate gardens, breathtaking views, historic architectures & Great Performances Premier Catering, Wave Hill is the most romantic and magical setting for any event in New York City, and only…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - June 29, 2023
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Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - June 28, 2023
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Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center eNews - May 30, 2023
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Read More »In the Garden Now: 2023 Nally Interns
In the Garden Now 2023 Nally Interns Now more than three decades old, with more than 100 graduates, the John Nally Internship offers emerging professionals an opportunity to explore a horticulture career over the growing year, roughly from April…
Read More »Gifts for Mom in The Shop at Wave Hill
It’s not too late to find the perfect gift for Mom and any other special lady in your life. We have a wonderful selection of jewelry, including designs by Mabel Chong-delicate and stunning necklaces, earrings and bracelets. All pieces are…
Read More »Mother’s Day at Wave Hill
Mother’s Day Sunday, May 14 A day in the gardens with Mom—or anyone you treasure for their nurturing—in a garden bursting with Mother Nature’s own new beginnings, makes this May weekend a very special one. Find links…
Read More »Celebrate Mom at The Shop at Wave Hill
Let our talented team at The Shop at Wave Hill help you with all of your Mother’s Day gift-giving needs! New summer scarves and accessories are arriving each week, and we are here to help you find just the right gift. We welcome back our…
Read More »Exhibition - This Place We Once Remembered at Glyndor Gallery
In an age of reckoning and renegotiation with history, we must also contend with the stubborn resistance that some memories have to being forgotten. In This Place We Once Remembered, artworks and performances by eight former Wave Hill Winter…
Read More »Exhibition - Jae Hi Ahn - Sunroom Project Space 2023 at Glyndor Gallery
Jae Hi Ahn’s work centers on community well-being and human relationships to nature, racism and sexism through installation, sculpture, drawing and photography. Her site-specific installation The Condolence Message incorporates porcelain…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center Happenings for May 2023
Mother Nature brought spring to the gardens well before expected this year, April stealing a little of the thunder of the season from May—and bringing our gardeners, along with our newly-settled in John Nally Interns, moving quickly to catch…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center - Arbor Weekend Returns!
Arbor Weekend April 28, 29, 30 Next weekend, celebrate the trees in our gardens and neighborhoods with walks, art-making, mini sessions of forest bathing, a cooking demo, kid-friendly activities and more! By popular demand, arborists from Almstead…
Read More »Wave Hill News - Announcing Outdoor Concerts This Summer!
Summer 2023 Concerts Kick Off June 22 Wave Hill’s Summer 2023 outdoor performing arts season features world-class artists who give voice to the diverse soundscape of the city. This year’s performances in the garden usher in a…
Read More »Art and Garden Workshops and Glyndor Gallery Reopens
April at Wave Hill With carpets of glory-of-the-snow and other spring blooms brightening the gardens as the month begins, April finishes up with Arbor Weekend, a time-honored tradition in early spring. Glyndor Gallery Reopens April 22 This Place…
Read More »Wave Hill : The birds are back
Spring Birding Experiences Onsite and Virtual Photo: Joshua Bright Come bird with us! There are birding experiences for everyone at Wave Hill this spring. Space is limited and registration is required. Intro to Birding (virtual) Thu, April…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center In the Garden Now : Glory-of-the-Snow
A “super-bloom” of glory-of-the-snow marks the start of spring at Wave Hill. These gentian blue flowers bloom together, producing a carpet-like display under trees, in garden beds and alongside paths in the Woodland. Continue reading in…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center ENews - February 27, 2023
March at Wave Hill Well-timed for the unpredictable turn weather can take in March—especially after a very warm February—Succulent Sunday (Mar 19) is a chance to spend a day indoors learning to cultivate, consume, draw or just admire…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center In the Garden Now: Budding Beauty
In the Garden Now Budding Beauty There is much to admire when it comes to the anatomy of a woody plant bud. Rather poetically, within each bud lies the hidden potential for next season’s leaves and flowers. Some are protected by scaled…
Read More »Happy Valentine’s Day From The Shop At Wave Hill!
Wave Hill is helping Cupid win the hearts of those dearest to you. Wave Hill Members save 20% on all jewelry purchases from February 1, through February 12, 2023. If you are not a member you will still receive 10% off, but it is easy to become one…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center eNews - January 31, 2023
February at Wave Hill Winter may still be holding on tight as February begins, but we are already feeling the arrival of spring in the gardens. Indulge in that late-winter hibernating mood on Hibernators Weekend (Sat, Sun, Feb 4, 5). But be…
Read More »A Part Of The Aesthetic : The Alpine House Nursery January 25, 2023
In a garden, a nursery is simply an area used to produce and grow plants for a separate destination. At Wave Hill, there are a few types of nurseries tucked into the landscape; one of them is inside the T. H. Everett Alpine House. Alpine House…
Read More »Hibernators Weekend Is February 4, 5, 2023
Embrace the beauty and serenity of winter at Wave Hill’s Hibernators Weekend. Hunker down like a hibernator with activities in our warm and cozy indoor spaces, or venture out into the peaceful gardens to connect with the creatures that animate…
Read More »Wave Hill - Meet our Winter Workspace Residency Artists
Winter Workspace Drop-in Sundays Jan 29 and Feb 5 Artist Tomo Mori works in her studio The first session of our 2023 Winter Workspace residency is underway! Meet the artists in their studios on Sun, Jan 29, and Sun, Feb 5. Drop in between 1PM…
Read More »Exhibition by Rebecca Allan at Wave Hill
Cultivating Eden presents Rebecca Allan’s recent paintings referencing the labor of gardeners and their spaces. By focusing on their working process—both visible and unnoticed—her series praises the devoted care that the gardeners…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center eNews - December 27, 2022
January at Wave Hill The week before New Year’s is a time of anticipation, and high hopes for health and peace for all. And a time to be grateful for nature and its winter busy-ness. Start with the Wildlife Trees at the Paisley Bed, where…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden And Cultural Center: In The Garden Now: Holiday Decor
In the Garden Now: Holiday Decor Sustainable holiday decorations may sound like an oxymoron to some, but here at Wave Hill we make it a priority. Locally harvested greens and reused embellishments are key to achieving this mission. Holiday…
Read More »Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center : Last-Minute Gifts At The Shop At Wave Hill
We have a wonderful selection of STEM Toys, sumptuous bath and body products, artisan crafted jewelry for all budgets and our wonderful plants and plant-parent accessories. Spend $100 or more in The Shop and your same-day parking fee is free!…
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