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.
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 »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 »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 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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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’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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 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 »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 »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 »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 »Click here to View the Information About "Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center News - June 29, 2023"
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Read More »Click here to View the Information About "Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center eNews - May 30,…
Read More »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 »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 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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »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!…
Read More »December at Wave Hill The first half of the month is bustling, then slowing down for a peaceful transition to the new year. The gardens are dressed naturally for the season, including a Wildlife Tree decorated with edible ornaments created by…
Read More »This festive weekend heralds an especially joyous holiday season, and we've dressed up for the occasion. Join us in Wave Hill House for an Artisan Market, from noon to 4PM both days. Match your holiday shopping list with handcrafted jewelry,…
Read More »As the temperature drops, make any game night with fun new games, puzzles and toys from The Shop. Wondering where to begin when it comes to hosting your own game night? Look no further. Our selection of exciting new games includes a fun test of…
Read More »Every weekend in November offers a feast for the senses, culminating in Thanksgiving. How thankful we are to be able to gather together, at the holiday table—and in the gardens. Starting Tuesday, November 1, the gardens close at 4:30PM as the…
Read More »October at Wave Hill A highlight of the fall season, falconer Brian Bradley is back on Wings over Wave Hill Day, October 9, while families get inspired by the songs of migrators, and two birding walks get us out in the gardens looking and…
Read More »In the Garden Now Pergola's Fiery Fall Palette Golden and flame-colored leaves and flowers lick at the pillars supporting the Pergola. This fiery color palette of hot tones includes gold, burnt orange, vibrant red, toasted green and brilliant…
Read More »Celebrate New Shows in Glyndor Gallery Join us for an afternoon reception replete with contemporary visual art and a jazz performance outside the Gallery. Learn more and register—registration is recommended! The group show, What We…
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