Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens

Beautiful and relaxing place. The lady who works there for the last 16 years and sells the tickets was outstanding with sharing stories and interesting facts about Norton Family. Its a residential area but surprisingly huge grounds that are hidden. Many plants, palms, paths and little store. Worth visiting for sure.

First impression was excellent! Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. The nice lady sitting at the entrance was excellent. She shared detailed bits of info about the house, its owners, and the Gardens. Excellent info bits for a first time visitor as myself. I enjoyed my time walking around the Gardens and admiring the sculptures. Great place to explore and inmerse yourself in a bit of old Florida history.

I have been twice to the Ann Norton house. It is spectacular. The Artist was so ahead of her time. To observe her Artwork is as if you are in times of antiquity. It is special to be able to walk through the garden and run into the most exquisite statues. I highly recommend a trip to West Palm Beach, just to enjoy this jewel of a museum.

Such a magical place…!!! A real hide jewel to contemplate… take your time to travel in time a feel the presence of the artist in each corner. Giovanna will make your visit even better with her warm welcome and admiration and knowledge for this beautiful place.

We loved the gardens they have beautiful spots for great pictures. Don’t expect a big place but it’s worth it. They have an interesting picture collection from the Old West Palm Beach Society. It’s no parking lot for the visitors, we had to park on the street. No restaurant/ Cafeteria

This garden is stunning, beautiful, and amazing sculptures. The people working there were very nice and knowledgeable about its history. This place was so amazing that I literally fell and got hurt. But it's clearly my fault I got caught up on taking pictures and videos. I missed that last step and fell. But the two ladies who worked there were kind, gave my wife the first aid stuff, and patched me up back together. They gave us a refund and called the next day to see how I was. That meant a lot. So much so that my parents went to the museum the next day Thank you again for your help We'll definitely be back

Polite and nice staff and tour guide Peaceful beautiful gardens and sculptures Very informative tour guide

A lovely stop for us visiting Palm Beach. Much to see. Each room was presented with taste and artfully curated. The walking path with outdoor sculptures is a must see. The restaurant was both delicious and the staff were very attentive. Highly recommend a visit...

Beautiful venue for a Sunday Afternoon of relaxation and Jazz at the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden

This was an amazing experience!!! The gardens are so beautiful and I have learned so much about Ann Norton. Her art work is beautiful and I am so happy to have visited this Sanctuary. The tour guides were very knowledgeable. It was absolutely exquisite and so worth the experience. This place is a hidden gem.

Uhhh...so this place is not even open and no one bothered to post this on the website nor does the answering machine say it. Came here today..on my birthday, after checking both the website and phone line to make sure it was open. Nothing said it was not. Then walked up to the door and knocked multiple times, rang the doorbell twice and someone finally came to the door..confused why we were there He then said the place is closed until November for renovations. Such a strange experience and still left wondering why this is not discussed on the website or the voice message when you call. I'm sure the place is lovely, but the communication and signage is very poor. Also there is no parking lot to park in. Street parking only.

The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens blends right in with the surrounding residential neighborhood amongst the beautiful houses situated along the Intracoastal Waterway. I parked along the street and walked into what looks like a private estate, but is instead a not-so-secret garden. I really enjoyed getting to look at all the sculptures at my own pace, with plenty of nature to provide time and space for reflection. This is an awesome place for children to run around and explore. No one told us to stop doing anything, and I didn't see any signs telling us not to touch these sculptures (unlike at the Norton Museum, where a guard approached us the moment my children tried to get close up to a sculpture in their garden). What a great way to experience art: up close, as part of the landscape, as something to look around, lean on, climb on, run around, interact with. Most of the 2-acre estate is shady. A few different ponds and fountains dot the landscape. I'm not certain that I explored the entire thing because my map skills are zero, but I think we saw it all. I really, really love the current exhibit of metal sculptures by Edwina Sandys. The fun, whimsical, colorful dancing plant people brought a smile to my face and were a perfect balance to the larger permanent Ann Norton sculptures. We visited on one of the recent story times hosted by the Mandel Public Library. This has been on my bucket list for ages, and did not disappoint. I hope they continue to host more family-friendly events such as this.

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens And Home is a historic site with artist studio space where Ann Norton did her art work. It's located in West Palm Beach and you can find street parking near by. They have numerous events in the season. For the calendar check out their website. The outdoor space of gardens is excellent with many sculptures throughout this green space. My favorite was the untitled horizontal sculpture piece that was near the back side of the home. Inside the home they were showcasing different artists' work throughout. The artist's studio was separated space that was highly creative and I loved the pieces throughout. Side Note- They have voting going on for expansion funding for the studio. You can vote online until October 29,2019. There is more information about it on their website. ~

Beautiful place to spend an afternoon wandering the beautiful grounds and viewing the interesting sculptures. Take your time and be sure to view the sculptures from different angles. Also if you are an orchid fan you will be pleased. The artist studio is a little glimpse into Ann Norton's artistic process. Also the main house contains a selection of works. Right now there are paintings from Homer Winslow, Andrew Wythe, Georgia O'keefe and Grant Wood among others. If you are an art lover, don't pass up a pleasant afternoon at this lovely spot.

I went in May when they offered 2 for 1 entry. It is regularly $15/person. It takes less than 1/2 hour to walk through the first floor of home and the grounds. The home had a traveling exhibit about Sherlock Homes throughout the first floor. The grounds has about 15 sculptures to look at. A lot of the grounds are shaded. It is peaceful. There are a few benches to sit on. There is a patio next to the home with tables and chairs. I saw ladies having a picnic lunch they brought. The property is along the intracoastal on the mainland. There is free street parking.

What a nice museum. The sculptures were beautiful and the garden so relaxing. I was even able to see the beautiful butterflies. Would give this place more stars if I could. Staff wore a mask. Enjoyable and would definitely recommend to visit. Beautiful place for a wedding!!!! :))))

We finally made it! We'd tried to come here about a month or so ago but they were still closed... before season. We got there after lunch in the area to find we had an hour to visit before they closed. No problem! Prices are a tad high... Adults are $15 and Seniors are $10. But it is Palm Beach County and it's more of a donation than an admission. Donna was nice enough to give a mini explanation of the sculptures, what to see and why, some background history of Mrs. Norton, a copy of a map showing everything, and a reminder to allow time to see the glass exhibit inside the house. All this (and more) in a quick 5 minute talk as we stood on the back porch. We walked the paths around the sculptures starting with her interpretation of the Himalayas, five "gateways" plus her "gateway to knowledge" sculpture as the original is in front of a college. One interesting point of note that she made all the bricks used in her sculptures. We also stopped into her small studio which showcases preliminary pieces or pieces used as studies before the final execution of a sculpture. Inside the house, were featured a number of artists along with their glass works. Some quite lovely.

Ann Weaver Norton was a woman ahead of her time. She left Alabama during a time in history when women had little opportunities. She defied her families expectations of becoming a missionary to instead pursue her passion for art in New York and attend Smith College and Cooper Union. She was thwarted twice, once by the Great Depression reducing the demand for art and a second time by WWII which restricted the ability to get metal for her sculptures. She moved to West Palm Beach in 1942 to teach at the Norton School of Art where she became friends with Ralph Norton and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun. After Elizabeth died in 1947 Ralph and Ann married in 1948. Ralph supported Ann's art and built her an art studio. They also enjoyed traveling together before Ralph passed away in 1953. Ann passed away in 1982 and is buried in her home state of Alabama. Today you can visit Ann and Ralph's historic former home that hosts traveling art exhibits. During our visit there was an exhibit of Murano glass. There are 9 huge works of art in the garden that Ann made the bricks for. Himalaya is the large mountain like sculpture directly behind the house and Gateway to Knowledge is also at Harvard University. Among the sculptures there is more than 250 palms and cycads in the beautifully manicured gardens. You can see even more works of art in Ann's artist studio where her sculpture tools are also on display. It costs $15 to visit and it takes about an hour. Parking is free on the street if you can find it. I had to put my parallel parking skills to use and I was pretty proud of myself. I may get the hang of it yet. The garden is only open when it's "season" so check the website before you visit. I love art and the beautiful weather made this the perfect thing to do on a gorgeous day.

Was really disappointed with our experience here! $25 dollars for one adult and one senior and it is VERY small although beautiful it is not worth that entrance fee. I love art but was not fond of the fruit statues. The front desk lady was neither friendly nor informative and was so worried about us taking a free pin that she wouldn't explain anything. We finally found a map outside. And learned how really small it is. Most of the plants I loved weren't labeled and the cafe was pricey as well. Free street parking in residential area.

Nestled in a residential Block we found Ann Nortons home and her sculpture garden. We were given a little bit of a background about Ann with a map identifying her large sculptures and exotic plants. We spent about an hour walking around, it was very shady and pretty. Admission was $12 it was reduced for children and seniors, we parked on the street in front. There were socially distant markings and hand sanitizer, but today it felt like our own private garden.

Absolutely beautiful and serene! A hidden gem on a quiet residential street. The main floor has small exhibits which change from time to time. The outdoor gardens are spectacular! The vegitation and landscaping are something to behold. The sculptures are varied and something everyone can enjoy. You don't have to be a cultured art expert to appreciate this place. A great place to relax and unwind. There are benches throughout if you need a rest. Do not go on a rainy or wet day. Do not bring young children if they tend to become restless. The whole experience takes about sixty to ninety minute to take in. Two hour parking is plentiful on the street outside. Respect the neighbors.

Ann Norton's home and gardens are something to see if you are a sculpture connoisseur. Find someone to tell you about Ann and her husband's life, or look it up. It adds a great deal to the mind behind the scultures/artwork. We also saw lovely paintings by Laura Woodward, an artist from the mid-1800s. New Yorker Boaz Vaadia (1951-2017) blue stone sculptures are scattered around the yard. Very interesting. Be sure to ask about his technique, also.

We visited in November 2020. After being closed for awhile, it finally open its doors with exhibit "Sculpture in motion". The tickets were $66 for a 2 adults and 2 children. It was well worth it. Spectacular one of a kind cars from 1950's and 1960's lifted and energized otherwise calm and peaceful setting of a garden. Very well organized, cars were spectacularly polished and showcased and for a moment they reminded us of a show stopping orchids that are usually teasing us from the tree trunks and branches in the garden. After rating the cars, we walked the garden and enjoyed the sculptures displayed.

2019 Review 51/100 A really cool place to get lost for a little while. It's like a secret tropical garden filled with beautiful artwork. If you like art, Ann Norton Sculpture Garden is a must-do during your trip to The Palm Beaches. The Garden is tucked back in a residential area on the Intracoastal near Downtown West Palm Beach. The grounds are filled with really cool sculptures. You can also visit Ann Norton's home. Given the location, this is a great place to spend part of an afternoon, grab some lunch and then go for a walk along the water. A great part of the West Palm Beach art scene.

Wow! What a beautiful place to visit. The house is located on a quiet residential street. Parking is very limited. Once we entered the house, we were greeted by a lovely lady who knew EVERYTHING about Ann Norton's life. The house is gorgeous and the gardens are so beautiful. The art studio has a lot of Ann's sculptures not displayed on the property. The sculptures that are in the gardens are amazing. Pictures don't do them justice. Definitely go and see for yourself. It's a great place to visit.

It was a pleasure to walk through this sculpture garden. While close by at the Norton, I happened to look it up and realized it was free this Saturday. All we had to do was fine parking. Strolling through the garden was nice because of the tall trees. The trees shaded the area so that it wasn't too hot to walk through. There was a small historic house in the front where art was also displayed. And on this day, they served the public some refreshments. We enjoyed lemonade and cookies in their backyard area. The sculptures were very amazing. They were huge!

Beautiful place... perfect for a staycation activity... gorgeous sculptures and gardens .. a hidden corner by the sea worth visiting.

So disappointed with this experience. I planned my whole morning around visiting this place. Was on vacation staying at the Hilton. Left my hotel and decided to find a breakfast place nearby since it was listed as open at 10am on yelp and I had left a bit early. Good reviews on trip advisor for this place also. Arrived around 1030 to find it closed in July, August, and September. So disappointed. No where I looked this place up was that clear.

Great atmosphere and welcome staff. The visits of the gardens was phenomenon. I would definitely go back l!

Beautiful grounds dedicated to the work of Ann Norton. This is a great place to wander around for and hour or so and experience art in nature.

If you're in Palm Beach and enjoy avant-garde and modern artistic expression, as well as gardens, then I recommend visiting the Norton Sculpture Gardens. Located on Barcelona Road in an upper middle class, quiet residential area, this charming home (the Norton House) is located on prime waterfront land, 1.7 acres to be exact, across from the water. The Norton Sculpture Garden draws its name from Ann Norton, an American artist, whose maiden name was Ann Weaver. An artist since a young age, she got started with sculpting while still in elementary school. She was the second wife of Ralph Hubbard Norton, founder of the Norton Museum of Art, also in Palm Beach. Impressively, this rather small and waif-like woman was able to carve statues over 12 feet tall. She worked mostly with brick, as she knew this was a hardy material, and it reminded her of the chimneys of her home state of Alabama. If you know anything about carving, you'd know carving brick is not easy, so it takes a lot of hard work, and talent. She actually made her own bricks in her studio; she lived and worked on the property. These statues that she created are on display directly in the gardens of what used to be her home until the time of her death. The statues were designed for the gardens and put among the plants and rare palms. The garden was representative of her commitment to conservation and preservation among high rises. Keeping with the concept of conservation, the palms and other plants on the grounds are left to grow in a natural state, rather than using professional landscaping and pruning. They are trimmed if they obstruct with the path, but other than that, they are not tampered with. Most of the trees on the property happen to be palms, which are able to bend in the case of hurricanes and strong winds, so pruning is unnecessary. The Gardens contain over 100 sculptures and over 300 species of tropical palms. Though Ann passed away of leukemia in 1982, she left behind a studio that contains works in bronze, stone, and wood. The studio has been left intact since her death, and it is open to the public so in addition to seeing the sculptures on the grounds, you can access her studio, where time has stood still. It encompasses over four decades of sculpture and several artistic periods and concepts by the artist. It is very haunting, I felt an air of sadness, and I can imagine the frustration she must have felt of not being able to complete her works due to her declining health. In 1977 Ann Weaver Norton had the foresight to establish a foundation, the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, Inc. Ann sought to preserve the historically significant art studio, the sculpture gardens and the architecture that comprise this unique national and local treasure. Ann lived and worked at 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach for 34 years until the time of her death in 1982. Thanks to the foundation, we are able to enjoy the grounds without fear of the home or the grounds being demolished to make way for another modern commodity. In addition to visiting the grounds and the home, there are photography exhibits inside the home for your viewing pleasure. Up until mid-April, they have photographs of Nancy Ellison on display. She shares with us some intimate, candid photos of the famous. In Palm Beach County, the Norton Sculpture Garden is known for having beautiful tree lighting ceremonies (Festival of Trees) during Christmas, where they pick a theme and put several Christmas trees throughout the property that are lit up and keep with this theme. There are also lectures and other exhibits going on throughout the year. You can check out their "events" page to find out more if you're interested.

What a lovely surprise as I was passing through West Palm Beach! The gardens (the only part I was able to see) are a tremendous tour of interesting sculpture, as well as palm variety. An easy walk (though maybe not wheelchair accessible in all areas), this place also affords a nice opportunity to stretch your legs while admiring both natural and created beauty. Just terrific! I arrived on the day they were setting up for an event, and the house/museum/studio portion never actually opened while I was there. Comments about the exterior only. TIP: the museum is not necessarily well marked, and the available parking is just on the street, in the neighborhood. Check out the pics of the house here on Yelp and look for that. You can verify that you are at the right place by a small plaque near the front door.

Very nice sculptures, very interesting and unique. The plants and trees are beautiful, this is a nice place to visit while you're in West Palm.

Please note, this place is not open in summer. We went there and the sign said it closes in June for the summer and doesn't open until fall. I know it's the off-season, but maybe let us know before we drive out there? We saw no warnings about it being seasonal until we walked up the door.

What an exception place. Its two acres with a house, artist studio and a path through trees and tropical vegetation showcasing her large work. I found it to be a hidden gem close to fown town. Park on the street and there is a fee per adult. There is a small little courtyard cafe. I didnt eat but it was very cute. There are many benches to sit on along the path so you can enjoy the time.

I can here for my birthday and it was an amazing experience. All the palms were so beautiful and scenery was very peaceful and calming. The only suggestion is to make sure you are wearing off. I got eaten up by mosquitoes but besides that I have a very lovely time.

This is a wonderful little spot if you are into art, sculptures, history or have botanical aspirations. Before Artist Ann Norton died of leukemia in 1982, she had the foresight to protect her property and artwork by applying for non-profit status. It has now been placed on the historic register so the house, grounds and artwork are all protected for generations to come. Touring the grounds you will find many of her pieces, mostly in Brick, Granite and Bronze. You can also tour her studio which was enchanting. In the act of conservation, she and her husband also planted 300 palms and other tropical plants in their 1.7 acre property. It's a wonderful place truly. Be sure you read about her before you go, you'll be that much more intrigued. Only $10 to get in and you can spend as much time as you want there. I will be back next time I'm in town.

This place is incredible. You see the home, gardens and studio. Walking around the property transports you back in time, and the sculptures, landscaping and more than 300 species of palm are breathtaking. A great place to pack a picnic, take your lunch or a book and relax. Property isn't huge, but it is a highly recommended place to visit.

Great way to spend an hour it like $10 to get in very peaceful amazing garden and art work

A must-see in West Palm. Beautiful sculptures in an edenic tropical palm garden. A bit hard to find, which I guess prevents it from being too busy. Parking is hard to find, again a blessing in disguise. Could use a bit more context for the pieces, maybe some explanation of Ann's life.

This garden is in a beautiful location on the island of Palm Beach. The tropical foliage is just gorgeous. The artist's studio has lovely architecture with big windows. The art wasn't really in the style that I like though. Here is a photo: http://www.lotsafunmaps.com/gallery.php?id=6613

Along the water in downtown West Palm Beach (not on the island as the other reviewer wrote) this tropical paradise is a hidden gem. The historic home had an amazing art exhibition inside, but the true beauty was the lush, tropical walkways and surprisingly massive sculptures. Surprising because we were taking in the gorgeous plant life under the blue skies when suddenly there were towering works around the corner. It feels like discovering a new civilization in a rain forest. I feel like time stood still while we were there, and for a moment we were living IN the moment. Cannot recommend this wondrous place enough.

We knew from the moment we stepped into the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens that that would be the location for your wedding. Isolde was more then helpful with everything in our wedding planning and stayed throughout the entire event. We could not have been happier! (Liz & Mike Rice, 10/10/14)