Conservatory Garden

You are approaching the Conservatory Garden, a six-acre oasis that serves as the only formal garden in all of Central Park. While the rest of the park is defined by the sweeping, naturalistic landscapes envisioned by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, this space operates with a distinct, geometric precision. Its name traces back to a large glass conservatory that occupied this very spot from eighteen ninety-eight until the mid-nineteen thirties, housing exotic tropical plants and serving as an early horticultural hub for the city. After that structure fell into disrepair and was demolished by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, the formal outdoor garden you see today was designed in nineteen thirty-seven to take its place.