Wave Hill facts for kids
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Wave Hill
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Wave Hill House
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | West 249th Street and Independence Avenue |
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| Area | 20.9 acres (8.5 ha) |
| Built | 1843 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001646 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 9, 1983 |
Wave Hill is a beautiful 28-acre estate located in the Riverdale area of the Bronx, New York City. It's a special place with public gardens and a cultural center. You can find it on the hills overlooking the Hudson River, with amazing views of the New Jersey Palisades across the water.
This estate has two main houses and a botanical garden. The oldest part of the main house, called Wave Hill House, was built in 1843. Glyndor House was built later, in 1927, and now has an art gallery with many rooms. There's also the Perkins Visitor Center, which used to be a garage. Today, it has a gift shop and an information desk for visitors.
Many famous people lived at Wave Hill in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They either owned it, rented it, or stayed there as guests. In 1960, the estate was given to the City of New York. Now, Wave Hill is a popular cultural center and garden. Besides art shows, you can also enjoy concerts in Armor Hall on some Sunday afternoons. Wave Hill is recognized as a National Historic Place and a New York City designated landmark.
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A Look Back: Wave Hill's History
The original Wave Hill House was a gray stone mansion. It was built in 1843 by a lawyer named William Lewis Morris. Later, from 1866 to 1903, a publisher named William Henry Appleton owned the house. He made it bigger between 1866 and 1869, and again in 1890. He also added greenhouses and gardens to the property.
During these years, famous visitors came to Wave Hill. One was Thomas Henry Huxley, who helped Charles Darwin share his ideas about evolution with the world. Theodore Roosevelt's family rented Wave Hill during the summers of 1870 and 1871. The famous writer Mark Twain also rented it from 1901 to 1903.
In 1903, George Walbridge Perkins, a business partner of J. P. Morgan, bought the house. He also bought land next to it, including Glyndor. Glyndor was a house built by the Harriman family in 1888. It later burned down and was rebuilt in 1927. In 1910, Perkins added an underground building for fun activities, which even had a bowling alley! Perkins also did a lot of work on the gardens. He rented Wave Hill House to a famous fish expert named Bashford Dean from the American Museum of Natural History. Dean added a stone part to the building to create his own private museum, called Armor Hall.
Other well-known people who lived at the estate included the conductor Arturo Toscanini (from 1942 to 1945). Also, important members of the British team at the United Nations lived there from 1950 to 1956.
In 1960, the Perkins-Freeman family gave Wave Hill to the City of New York. This was suggested by Robert Moses, a famous city planner. In 1983, the estate was added to the list of National Historic Places. Before 1987, it was known as Perkins Garden. That year, Parks Commissioner Henry Stern officially renamed it Wave Hill.
In 2005, Wave Hill received part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation. This was a gift from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. About 65,000 people visit Wave Hill every year. This makes it one of the most popular spots in Riverdale.
Exploring Wave Hill's Gardens
Wave Hill has many different types of formal gardens. They often group plants by their type. Some of the garden areas you can explore include:
- The T. H. Everett Alpine House: This house is named after Thomas H. Everett. He worked hard to save and restore Wave Hill as a New York City Landmark. He also taught Marco Polo Stufano, who became the first Director of Horticulture here.
- Herb and Dry Gardens: These gardens feature plants that like dry conditions or are used as herbs.
- Aquatic & Monocot Garden: Here you'll find plants that grow in water and monocots, which are a type of flowering plant.
- Bee Hives: Look for active bee hives in the woodland area!
- The Herbert & Hyonja Abrons Woodland: This is a 10-acre area of native forest. It has a woodland path that goes around the edge of the property.
- The Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory: This large greenhouse has different rooms. You can see a cactus room, a tropical room, and a palm room.
- The Perennial Flower Garden: This garden is full of flowers that come back year after year.
- Pergola and Vistas: Enjoy the beautiful Pergola, a covered walkway, and amazing views of the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades.
- Special Collections: These include the Shade Border, Elliptical Garden, and Conifer Slope, each with unique plants.
- Wild Garden: A garden designed to look natural and wild.
Wave Hill's gardens are also a great place for birdwatching in New York City. So far, 127 different types of birds have been seen here! These include ruby-throated hummingbirds, great blue herons, and even bald eagles. The gardens are also next to Riverdale Park.
Fun Programs and Activities
Wave Hill offers many different programs. These programs focus on gardening, art, and education. There's always something new to learn or experience!
The Shop at Wave Hill
The Shop is located in the Perkins Visitors Center. It sells gifts made by local artists. You can also find nature-themed items and handmade crafts.
Cafe and Terrace
The Cafe is inside the Wave Hill House. It offers a variety of hot and cold foods. You can eat inside or enjoy your meal on the Kate French Terrace, which is located behind the Wave Hill House.
Gallery of Wave Hill's Beauty
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The cactus and succulent collection, showing plants that store water.
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Part of the Abrons Woodland path, a peaceful trail through the trees.
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A view with carnivorous plants in the foreground, plants that eat insects.
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Glyndor House, one of the main buildings at Wave Hill.
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Wave Hill's Pergola overlooking the Hudson River, a beautiful spot for views.
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Wave Hill's Woodlands in the spring, with chionodoxa blooming, showing colorful flowers.
More to Explore
In Spanish: Wave Hill para niños
