Wave Hill – Bronx, NY

Marty and I visited Wave Hill at the end of the autumn, when the Hudson shimmered below us. Perched high above the river in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, the former country estate felt worlds away from the bustle of the city with the sweeping views stretching toward the Palisades in New Jersey. 

Originally developed in 1843 as a private country estate, Wave Hill centered around what is now known as Wave Hill House, a Greek Revival mansion built by Willian Lewis Morris. Over the decades, the property passed through the hands of prominent families and notable guests. In the summer of 1870 and 1871, young Theodore Roosevelt stayed here, and later Mark Twain and his family made the estate home for a time.

In the early twentieth century, George Walbridge Perkins expanded the property, designing gardens and preserving woodland paths. His family deeded Wave Hill to the City of New York in 1960 transforming the once private retreat into a public treasure.

Now encompassing 28 acres, Wave Hill has terraced gardens, greenhouses, woodland trail, and dramatic overlooks. The historic buildings serve as cultural centers, hosting exhibitions and educational programs.

Marty and I enjoyed discovering a place that blends beauty and history. It isn’t just a garden or old home, but an unexpected sanctuary perched about one of the country’s busiest waterways.