On a hill above the Hudson river for nearly a hundred years to bloom under the sun, gorgeous gardens, Untermyer, also known as Untermyer Park, which was formerly an integral part of the estates of Graystone. Gardens with an area of 43 acres located in the town of Yonkers in Westchester County, new York. Here you can find a lot of amazing elements, such as the Persian garden of Paradise, a small Greek amphitheater, classical pavilion, pergola (covered colonnade), and stairs «Vista», decorated in the Italian style.
source: untermyergardens
Gardens, Untermyer was carefully created over the first 40 years of the XX century, when the territory, which is now a Park, was only a third of the huge estate owned by lawyer Samuel Untermyer.
source: untermyergardens
Untermyer, was born in Virginia in 1858. After the Civil war he moved to new York, where he became a partner in the law firm of Guggenheimer, Untermyer & Marshall. Samuel Untermyer was the first lawyer in America, who received a million dollars for a victory in one case. He also was a talented investor, which helped him to become a very rich man.
Another eminent lawyer passion was gardening. Unlike other wealthy gardeners, Untermyer versed in this case not worse than in investment. Gardens, Untermyer was known throughout the country, and some of the best gardeners learned the basics of his craft there.
source: untermyergardens
Untermeyer, bought the estate «Greystone» heirs of the defeated presidential candidate Samuel Tilden after the latter’s death in 1899. In 1916 the new owner of the vast property hired William Welles Bosworth, the architect and the landscape designer who had to create «the greatest gardens in the world.»
source: untermyergardens
source: untermyergardens
The main motive of the new garden became a Persian Paradise, which included many of their traditional elements of this style: the use of waterways to separate the garden into four quadrants, a massive gate and surrounding garden wall with octagonal towers at the corners. In addition, there were Greek elements, including the Ionian, the amphitheater, designed for entertainment. It is believed that the gardens of Untermyer have the largest number of floor mosaics in America.
source: untermyergardens
Before his death in 1940, Untermyer was hoping to donate all his property to the state, the state of new York, or, at least, the city of Yonkers. In the end, the authorities of the city of Yonkers agreed to accept part of the estate. This site was renamed Untermyer Park in his famous owner and Creator. In 1974 the gardens were listed in the national register of historic places.
source: untermyergardens
source: untermyergardens
Currently, Untermyer Park can be visited any day of the week from 7 am to sunset. The entrance to the Park is free.
To get to the Park from new York on the subway, then you will need to take the bus. The terminal station of line 1 on 242 nd street is just a few steps from the bus Westchester Bee Line (you can use your NYC Metrocard in order to ride this bus). Take the bus No. 2 to Dehaven Drive. The gardens are across the road at Broadway at 945 North Broadway.
