Amazing place during the day and a great night form. 13 different lighted highlights in a small section of the grounds. read more

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Such a cool unique place and a great way to get your steps in. The sculptures are modeled after famous paintings and are beautiful and detailed. There are hidden paths like Easter eggs that seem to lead to a different sculpture. They have a cute cafe to picnic outside with some light bites. We had a fun day exploring these larger then life sculptures. read more

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I really liked this place! Of course when it's a beautiful day that you visit it makes it all the better! I see whoever did the first review here shortened the actual name of the destination which you will see in my photos. The actual name is Seward Johnson Center for the Arts. Seward Johnson is the artist and founder of this sculpture park in Hamilton NJ and I feel the first reviewer is doing a disservice to the founder and creator by changing or shortening the name. Please go ahead and view my photos! read more

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We were going to be in town visiting some friends & were looking for something to do, Hubby came across this so we decided to check it out! Once parked we went inside, this was pretty nice to walk through the combo of the lights & music was mesmerizing, soothing & entertaining it was a nice experience. After we were done, we stopped by the center area this holds more art, a cafe & bathrooms should u need. This was a fun experience as the lights & sounds were very cool to watch we certainly enjoyed it. read more

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Beautiful grounds and sculptures. Mature tree growth allows for ample shade opportunities while touring. A great way to spend the day. The place is like a hidden gem. read more

Grounds For Sculpture - Museums Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

Beautiful place! Came in the time of cherry blossoms! Saw many beautiful sculptures, including the scream! I do wish the price to be a little cheaper. Overall a good experience! read more

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Amazing massive Sculpture Garden in Hamilton, NJ. We come a few times a year with the kids and they have a blast. The food at the Peacock Cafe is always great and Rat's (while expensive) is exceptional read more

Grounds For Sculpture - Family Open Studio - Museums Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

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So much more than I thought! The grounds are available to stroll at your leisure while viewing sculptures, plants and flowers. Gift shop and museum and a café and restaurant. We strolled the grounds for over two hours and didn't even make it into the museum on this trip. We also saw 2 resident peacocks, Koi fish, turtles, and even an egret. Tickets are best reserved online prior to your visit. $25/per adult. read more

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Amazing place. Great for family day trips. Have been there a few times. Worth the drive.

Perfect and unexpectedly warm Fall day enhanced by taking in the clever "Grounds for Sculpture." Our first visit so luckily we were with friends who knew the place well. Otherwise we may have been a bit confused at first. Overall, it took us about 2 hours to see everything. Plan to take lots of pictures. It is all so awesome. Any time of day or night is good. I heard the lights are beautiful at night which gives a whole different experience. Each season brings something different as well. The flowers and landscape are all so beautiful. We finished our day with a late lunch at Rats. Love the Ducks at the pond next to the restaurant. They seemed very comfortable with people and come right up near the table looking for bread. They must have known we were suckers for that. We really enjoyed our day and highly recommend. read more

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Beautiful park and wonderful time however I want express my disappointment with the unprofessional and rude behavior we experienced from the staff member at the entrance booth during our recent visit. We received free tickets for park entry via email, which we had printed out to present upon arrival. However, the Russian woman at the entrance booth--who spoke Russian to us--ripped our printed tickets and rudely stated that we could not use them, insisting we had to purchase tickets instead. She went as far as to shame us for having received the tickets for free. After we proceeded to the ticket counter and showed the email confirmation, we were immediately granted free entrance as promised and without issue. This incident left us questioning why this staff member felt the need to act in such an arrogant and dismissive manner, especially when we had valid documentation. It is incredibly frustrating and disappointing to encounter such treatment at a venue known for its beauty and cultural significance. Guests should feel welcomed and respected, not berated or humiliated. read more

It's great to have another review where I could let my pictures do all of the talking! But that would be unfair to this amazing indoor/outdoor epicenter for the sculptures of around 700 artists which is easily one of the best-hidden gems of New Jersey! it also wouldn't do justice to the incredible works of artist and philanthropist Seward Johnson that are showcased within it. The museum was a place that my GF had toured in the past, and she especially sold me on how you could do the occasional night tour that featured elaborate multimedia productions on top of the sculptures. So when she surprised us with tickets for an evening tour I was excited, even more so when I first saw the HUGE Seward Johnson sculpture outside and realized his connection to it. Long before I knew of Seward Johnson accolades or the sculpture garden that he helped found, I knew of him as the artist who made the Umbrella Man sculpture in Philly, and the curious trio of sculptures outside Ardmore Toyota (https://thisislowermerion.com/world-famous-artists-seward-johnson-created-ardmores-lifelike-sculptures/). The art of his has always done a good job of helping me take a break from the mundane and enjoy a little bit of outside creativity. So I appreciated learning more about his life within, hearing that he was the museum's founder, and knowing that it was his goal to create an indoor and outdoor space where new and old sculptors could showcase their works, and people could learn the art. Because we went on the night tour there were a good number of areas blocked off outside of the main entrance, which gives me plenty of incentive to come back. But the indoors had the fantastic retrospective of Johnson's career with some of his most important works, and a preview of Rat's Restaurant and coffee bar which is an interesting looking spot inspired by the works of impressionist painters.The theme of works inspired by impressionist painters and classic works carried throughout outdoors with glimpses of things like the three witches from Shakespeare's Hamlet, the classic women in the shell, and then some! The main event of the evening was by far the outdoor multimedia productions which showcased laser lights and music radiating upon some the parks outdoor sculptures to give it another unique presentation. With things like this outdoor tour, sculpting lessons, and other events its more than worth checking out the events calendar. But its also worth just touring during regular hours. Make the right highway turn on the way out, and you might even find even more sculptures to view for free. read more

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It was a picture perfect day, the weather was perfect, sunny in the 70's. We walked from 11am to 1pm and we didn't even feel it. Everyone on the grounds were well informed and very friendly. The lady at the information center, we asked her for a map because the internet was awful. I could even download my tickets. Thankfully the entrance person looked up my name and handed us our bracelets. Anyway, map lady had an attitude and was extremely condescending and lectured us, two women in their 70's on the importance of protecting the environment. I wanted to lecture her with a good slap. Why these two old white broads were so nasty I'll never know. They seriously almost ruined this outing for us. read more

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Its a amazing place. Full of beautiful sculptures and gardens. It has different times of American history. The Great Depression they have prop waiting in food lines and cilvil war , scalpers of famous paintings . Its a great place to visit for sure . I love going there read more

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What an incredible place to visit. if you like art you'll love this place. So many outdoor sculptures. I was so happy to find the incredible place to visit in NJ read more

OMG! Grounds For Sculpture is NJ's Gem to See!!! Review is so long overdue. My first visit was August 2019 and of course now April 2022. So many fascinating and thought provoking sculptures of all types and sizes by American and international artists. The sculptures are designed from wood, bronze, stone and steel. The landscaping is a work of art itself which compliments each sculpture. At this time, you'll see lovely daffodils and cherry blossom trees. In addition, a lovely lake surrounds the gardens. Some of the most intriguing sculptures are of people. From a distance, the sculpture appears to be a live person. When you get up close, it's not. :) Should you get hungry, there's a cafe and Rats Restaurant. The café serves sandwiches, wine, beer and soda. We shared a delicious Roast beef sandwich. The café is continually open and offers indoor and outdoor dining. Outdoor dining overlooks the water. In the water, you'll see Turtles and beautifully colored Koi Fish. Also, you'll see magnificent Peacocks strutting around the dining area and garden grounds. Reservations are needed for Rats Restaurant. Think the restaurant is open from Thursday-Sunday. Be sure to get an advanced timed ticket before arriving at Grounds For Sculpture . . It's best to go on a weekday to avoid crowds. There's a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes. read more

Grounds For Sculpture - Everything in this photo is an individual sculpture! (Except for the trees) - Museums Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

Great place to visit if you're into art, or even if you enjoy peaceful walks in beauty. The peacocks that roam the property simply enhance the natural beauty of the indoor and outdoor spaces. I visited with coworkers and I was in awe of the green spaces and integrated artwork. The sculptures were incredible and the employees were quite helpful. The options to eat while on property are both excellent- we opted for Rats and enjoyed lovely lunch salads. definitely worth the trip here! read more

Cool experience. Spent a couple hours here with my parents enjoying the walk around the facility. I didn't realize how big this place was until I got here. Glad we took our time to look at all the sculptures. Some of the artwork blends in well with the outdoor setting and landscaping where it was placed. There were also some renditions of famous paintings changed to three dimensional sculptures. read more

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I love this place so much. It's definitely a drive from NYC but also worth it. The park is huge and so much to see! They change the art enough so that each visit has new things to see. Plus there are peacocks that roam around! Albino peacocks too! read more

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Good sculptures and nice walk outdoors to view each sculpture. The paintings indoors were also very nice.

Have been seeing articles/references to Grounds for Sculpture for a while now and have been waiting for a good weekend to make the trip to visit. Thankfully it ended up being a beautiful day - we were there for about 90 minutes but honestly could have stayed much longer. The sculptures/installations are amazing. We particularly like the statues of people vs the abstract art. The life size sculptures are awesome and positioned all over so you happen upon them as exploring. The larger than life sized statues were our favorites. Would absolutely go back. read more

Grounds For Sculpture - Museums Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

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I've driven past Grounds for Sculpture many, many times since moving to the area, and we finally decided to check it out recently. It was a great time! The ticket price is a little steep for a one-off visit, but if you decide to get a membership, you can apply the amount you spent on your ticket towards the membership cost. If you think you'll be visiting even a handful of times over the following year, it's definitely a good investment! Anyway, after parking, you basically just walk around the grounds and explore. There are sculptures everywhere, some in plain sight and others hidden away on side paths. After our first visit, we actually thought that we saw everything, but we were proven wrong on later visits. In general, the sculptures are very interesting and span the gamut from strange abstract art to lifelike people. It's a great place to get some steps in and the scenery is absolutely beautiful, with fish ponds and tree-lined paths throughout. I can't comment much on anything indoors since we pretty much spend our entire time outdoors when we visit, but I do think there are some exhibits as well as a ceramics studio where you can take classes. Overall, I highly recommend this place! read more

We've been here twice now and love it. You could spend hours just wandering around and finding all the nooks and crannies. The landscaping and design of this place is amazing. The way the sculptures complement and enhance the nature around them is creative and captivating. We went the first time in early spring a few years ago while it was overcast & rainy, and again this summer on a partially sunny day. I felt like it was different enough both times to be appreciated all over again. I want to come in the fall as well to see the park in that season. It wasn't crowded when we went on a Friday, and masks are strongly recommended in enclosed areas. We felt very comfortable here and will be back again! read more

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Feeling the need for a bit of culture and art while still enjoying the beautiful weather outside? This is the place for you! Walk around the grounds at your own pace viewing the interesting and beautiful sculptures that reside there. Though some may leave you scratching your head others will have you impressed by the amazing eye for detail. Keep your eyes peeled - you'll catch a peak at a peacock or a pride. There's a cute lil gift shop inside where you can grab a magnet for your fridge. The bathrooms: so nice and clean!! Definitely a place to check out at least once in your life. read more

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I'd been hearing about this gens from a few friends and finally decided to head over to New Jersey to so see what the hype was about. I've become a big fan of sculpture so I was pretty excited. I'd say it would be good to set aside 1-3 hours to explore/take in the artwork. In the next COVID environment, the tickets are also timed. Went on a Friday Morning and it was not crowded at all. The property had a ton of glorious works of art to explore. I love the different sectors that allow visitors to get around as smoothly as possible there is also an interactive map so that people can know where they are in relation to the works. Next door is also a French restaurant called Rats. My group opted to get an early dinner at another restaurant close by. All in all I'd highly recommend a visit. (P.S. there's also a family of peacocks the wander the grounds. Hopefully you get to see on like I did) read more

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Pros at the top. Cons at the bottom. My visit was during the second week in March with a group of people. I really enjoyed myself. I purchased tickets online for a special night exhibit, Nightforms. I felt that the cost was reasonable. This is of course an outside event, so dress warm. The exhibit itself was beautiful. The lighting was cast on various parts of the exhibit and most, had a futurist theme. They even had music and other sounds to complete the experience. The whole Nightforms exhibit included about 13 different exhibits. They had some heating stations to stand by and even one to go into during the stroll. Another aspect I liked was that they had mobile scooters. The scooters were helpful because I have a knee injury. Staff was friendly and very helpful. Gift shop had some cool items: scarfs, postcards, jewelry, mini sculptures. Like all gift shops, items were overpriced. Cons: They had an eatery but they didn't seem to have a lot for vegans and gluten free options. This was disappointing because they don't allow you to bring in your own food. A member of my party got a $15 sandwich. It was a fancy sandwich but def not worth $15. They also had grab and go items like pudding and such. They do have dairy free option for coffee. ALSO, the coffee is ALL DECAF, except they PASSED IT OFF AS REG. This was the most disappointing part because I had an hour drive home and I NEEDED COFFEE TO NOT FALL ALLEP DRIVING. It was so hard to stay awake during the drive. Things like this are POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS! My ticket was for 5:30. On the ticket it stated to arrive 30 min early. The gate wasn't open to get into the parking lot until 6. :( read more

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do yourself a favor and come here for the night forms. buy tickets ahead of time, priced at about $25 per person. parking is free, but it can be a bit confusing to navigate at night so remember where you park. we spent a little over an hour here and loved it. a long the way they have bathrooms, fire pits, places to sit, and even a bar serving hot spiked drinks and snacks. this is kid friendly, walking exhibit, with sound and music, but also great for adults. would come back again! read more

Since our original visit, we have seen many Seward Johnson sculptures around the country (was not familiar at all with his work before our first visit) so I wanted to return here. This time we were there at the end of April and it was a beautiful spring day (what a difference a week or so made)! Prices have increased a bit since our first visit ($25 adults, $18 for seniors) and we didn't realize that it is recommended that you purchase a timed entry on line beforehand as they limit capacity. We were lucky on a Friday to get in without advance purchase. We spent 3.5 hours this time, first at the gallery to learn more about Johnson and his life/career and then making it all the way out to the meadow. The online map (scanned via bar code) was helpful but there were still a few sculptures tucked away down random paths we didn't find on the map. We did see both strollers and wheelchairs although again, some of the smaller paths would not be accessible. Also since our original visit, we did make it to NYC to see the original "Double Check" sculpture and in the gallery, saw a video about its recovery and Johnson's makeshift memorial. Very touching and emotional. Still didn't eat in the cafe but did visit the small gift shop. If, like us, you like outdoor art, this is a not miss! read more

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Very cool place. You get the fall foliage, gardens, fresh air, nice weather, and outdoor art. My aunts liked it more than I thought they would. read more

What an inspiration that one man's vision created for artists to showcase their art through sculptures. You could spend days and still not fully see everything and then interpret everything differently depending on your mood. Unfortunately it's out door so perhaps on a fairer weather day but do take the time to enjoy it. read more

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4.5* Such an amazing and unique get away spot in NJ. Decided to come with a friend. You can purchase tickets online before hand ($18/adult) & the entering/parking situation is super easy. We were able to get our wristbands as we drove into the parking lot since they scanned our tickets there. (It is SUPER convenient that they have a map of the place as a QR code ON the wristband). The map also came in super super handy as we explored the location. There are so many neat sculptures and truly unique beautiful pieces. Some of the excitement is kind of roaming around and seeing what you can find (but then we used the map to see if we missed anything). I think it's accurate to give the experience 2-3 hours. We arrived 12:45ish pm, got some coffee from the on-site café which was very convenient then started exploring. It definitely started getting busier around 2:30-3pm. Honestly, such a fun experience and I'm so glad NJ has something like this. read more

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We visited here a few weeks ago as the foliage started to turn and had our engagement photos taken. My other half, as well as our photographer, had rave reviews for it, so I was up for giving it a try. The trip was a long one for us, but it was worth it. First off, I'd recommend buying tickets in advance and getting there early for your time. Lines to enter indicated the place is popular and some folks without tickets were being turned away. The grounds are stunning. I am not an art buff by any means, but I had a great time. The sheer time, effort, and though put into this place is amazing. It was fun to wander around and discover the "exhibits," as some are hidden out of view. Truly felt like we were living in a painting. If you go on a nice day, you'll have a great time out. I can't comment on the food, as the places were packed. read more

PROS: - wheelchair accessible - lots of parking CONS: - none Very nice and easy to walk around. Lots of sculptures and lots of bends to discover something new. This is very easy to walk and wheelchair and stroller friendly. There are a lot of different water features and an artificial lake. You can see everything walking at a leisurely pace in about 75-90 mins. read more

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These gardens are peaceful and very beautiful. You can spend an hour walking around the sculptures or spend a half a day here. It's a great outing for the whole family. It's just the perfect size to enjoy art outside. You can buy the tickets on line. read more

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This is a great place to spend a few hours. The day I visited, only the outdoor garden was available to guests. There were several buildings which contained sculptures but were not accessible because of COVID restrictions. Tickets are required for entry so plan in advance. Tickets cannot be purchased on site. This is a museum of sculptures set in a garden. Definitely more museum than garden so if you are a horticulturist this may not be for you. There are small paths everywhere which lead to more sculptures. I felt like I was doing a mini treasure hunt...or Alice looking for another sculpture in wonderland. All sculptures are labeled. There are abstract sculptures as well as these beautiful metal sculptures of people. The people sculptures were so life like and they were positioned in many unique places within the garden. For example, there was a sculpture of a couple stealing a kiss under an archway. Honestly, I had to look twice before I realized it was a sculpture and not real people! My only real complaint about the grounds was the map for the site. Paper maps were not available due to COVID. There was only a virtual map from the website. The map was good for explanations of the sculpture but not so good for navigating. It would have been more helpful if it positioned you on the map. I also found it annoying that I had to keep reaching for my phone in order to figure out which way to go on the path. I was not a fan of the virtual map so gave up on it quickly. Navigating the paths without the map was okay but I would have preferred a paper map. read more

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Grounds for Sculpture was on my bucket list of things to do before I die. I recently got to experience walking the Grounds, taking in the art installations and unique pieces the grounds display on its massive acreage. For me to witness or experience art invokes a deep sense of connection and beauty to the world. It does not hurt that there is a picturesque French cafe you can dine at to restore your energy either. There are people in this world that do not like to go to museums and stay in their comfort zone, these are not my people. If you are reading this review it tells me you are either on the fence of coming here or prepping for your trip, to that I say definitely come here for a breath of fresh air to how simple and beautiful life can be if you stop and allow it to enter your being. As always people SYOY!!! read more

I always have a blast every single time I come here. Grounds for Sculpture is essentially a large sculpture park, but also a botanical garden in some ways. The design of the park is very interactive - you're not just walking on a flat plane. There are bridges, vistas, and buildings to go in. Lots of opportunities for great pictures. It's such a cool and unique place. I usually go in the summertime, but it's a great place all year round. If you're hungry, Rat's restaurant is conveniently connected to the park! So you can plan a fun day trip. The park also has themed events - I recently went to the Night Forms exhibit, which was this cool sci-fi electronica themed installation. The event starts after sunset as there many lights and lasers in the park. A cool and immersive experience. Lots of optical illusions and innovative exhibits. Highly recommend it! 5/5 read more

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Such a fun activity especially for art lovers. It is mostly all outdoors. I really enjoyed my visit and can't wait to come back. Admission was $18 for adults and I purchased my ticket online. Parking was free. read more

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This place is magical. The grounds and plants are as much a compliment to the sculptures as the sculptures are to the grounds. So much to see, so many great spaces. I would definitely recommend it, even for non art fans. Lots of different styles and materials. I don't think we saw half of the place so we will definitely be planning another visit. read more

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Great experience and we went on a gorgeous day. It's so relaxing to walk around and see all of the beautiful sculptures. We would have liked to see the larger Marilyn Monroe sculpture outside but it is currently being worked on. read more

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