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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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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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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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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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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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'd call the Grounds for Sculpture a hidden gem, but if you are anywhere near it, you cannot miss it. This is the perfect place to spend a day for folks of all ages. So I'm not going to pretend I know a lot about art, but there's a nice range of sculptures from people, to abstract to just plain cool. Its smack in Central Jersey (yes, that's a place). I believe since the pandemic started, you need tickets for a scheduled time. Make sure you get them in advance, or you may be locked out of the time you want to visit. Aside from the cost of admission, there's free parking and limitless fun. On my one recent visit, my group decided to take the hike and explore route. We did SO much walking and I think (I hope) saw the entire grounds. We could've spent even more time there, but we had one of the last entries of the day (see above re: scheduled times) and couldn't stay forever. We weren't kicked out, although we did need leave because they were closing. I don't believe they make people leave after a certain amount of time. This is a great place if you want to spend a day outdoors admiring great art. read more

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Grounds For Sculpture is an absolute must while visiting or living in NJ. This amazing sculpture park has incredible pieces of art, ranging from whimsical to scary. There's something that everyone can appreciate here. There are so many sculptures that are unbelievably moving because they are just so detailed. We had an absolute blast traipsing around the grounds and taking fun photos. There's also the Van Gogh Café and Rat's Restaurant on site, which provide alcohol, regular drinks, and food. read more

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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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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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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

The G F S is awesome, make sure you make a reservation so you are not dissapointed. Try to get there early because the grounds are extensive. The landscaping that surround a lot of the sculptures are beautiful. My favorite two sculptures were the two giant ladies talking on the park bench, and the giant reproduction of " American Gothic", with a large suitcase placed at their side. It is very tranquil walking through the grounds, and there are quite a few places to sit and quietly reflect in this peaceful nature setting. Grounds for sculpture, has a snack bar that is pretty expensive. The G F S is awesome, make sure you make a reservation so you are not disappointed. Try to get there early because the grounds are extensive. The landscaping that surround a lot of the sculptures are beautiful. read more

When I first started writing my review, my wife wasn't happy with me. She said: " just because you didn't like it is no reason to write a negative review !". After completing my first draft, I decided to listen to her and I deleted it. Over the last few days I've been thinking about the Grounds For Sculpture. I had been very excited about visiting and we had planned part of our trip to Princeton around arranging a time to explore the grounds. You need to reserve an hour either on their website or in person. It is significantly cheaper to book on line so if you decide to go, it's only $10 for adults if you book it on your computers. Anyhow, we did everything right and showed up at Seward Johnson's Grounds For Sculpture on a lovely Saturday afternoon. We were startled by some of the enormous erotic sculptures which seemed to have one thing in common, they were all created by Seward Johnson! There were other artists represented but the majority of the sculptures , especially the hugest ones were Seward Johnson's and I began to get the feeling that a very wealthy artist had created a park just to display his own work, with a few other installations to be able to get a tax write off for the entire park. That was my take. Here's the good news. If you have young kids, this is a great park for kids to wander around. Many of the artworks can be climbed on and its on a flat area for people who might not want to climb on hills. I just felt ripped off and knew that I wouldn't be returning here. read more

The Grounds for Sculpture seems like it's a whole lotta nothing from the outside, but on the inside it's an absolutely stunning gem! I seriously can't believe this gorgeous place of artistic wonder exists 20 minutes from our house. Grounds for Sculpture contains 42 acres of some amazing works of art. We spent nearly 5 hours there just taking photos and enjoying the landscape and we still had to rush through towards the end just to get to see it all. Multiple visits would probably be advisable if you really want to savor everything. If you love to take photos, you'll have a ball here. Some sculptures are mammoth spectacles which are easy to capture and enjoy, and some are completely unexpected like Summer Thinking and Redon's Fantasy of Venus, two sculptures that kind of caught me off guard. Overall, the most memorable pieces for me were the Damascus Gate ('m a Middle East buff, so this immediately caught my attention), the ancient and mystical looking Nine Muses and the whimsical Lakeside Table #1, depicting glasses of wine and a table set for lunch by a beautiful lake. If you live in the area and haven't visited Grounds for Sculpture, you simply must go. If you haven't been there in awhile, definitely give it another look when you have some free time. Regardless, consider supporting their efforts in some way. Five stars for Grounds for Sculpture. It's a magnificent destination and one of the most beautiful places I've seen in quite some time. read more

Great place to go & pretend you're a culture vulture. A sculpture garden in central Jersey that is easier to get lost in than an Ikea. Some of the sculptures were borderline genius, some should be hauled off to the scrapyard. The map they supply via a VR code is worthless. You're better off with a compass. But a unique day trip nonetheless. read more

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I live close by and pass this place all the time. I finally visited with my best friend and my cousin who came to visit me one weekend in early November. We went to the café and picked up some coffee. The staff was very friendly and gave us directions on where the best place to start the course is. It was chilly on the day we went but a light jacket was sufficient and our hot coffee to keep us in good spirits. The facility is nice with a lot to see. We saw a few couples taking engagement photos and groups enjoying themselves. We walked around for about one and a half to two hours and saw everything. By the time we reached the end of the course it was pretty dark which made it a bit difficult to navigate. Nonetheless, great experience. The peacocks are beautiful! I recommend going during the spring or summer or at least going early to ensure it does not get dark prior to finishing the course if you go in the fall. If you are looking for an activity to do with friends, family, or with a date/significant other, this is the place! read more

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Part botanical gardens and part art museum, Grounds For Sculpture is a really beautiful place! I can't imagine anyone not liking it here. For a $20 entrance fee ($17for seniors), you get to stroll around the enormous park at your leisure and stay as long as you want to. Interesting sculptures of lifelike people populate the premises and sometimes it's hard to tell from a distance if you're looking at a sculpture of a person or at another visitor! Besides Seward Johnson's trademark realistic sculptures, there are also hundreds of different artworks on display both outside and in galleries. Part of the indoor space is dedicated to a biography of the founder and his family. Everything here is comfortable for visitors with places to sit, get snacks/water, and use restrooms. The gift shop is tastefully curated with quality items. Resident peacocks and Koi brighten up the grounds and contribute to the feeling of having traveled to someplace exotic. So far I have visited here twice, once on a snowy day in March and once on a 97 degree day in August. I hope to come back here in spring and fall. read more

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

A great variety of sculptures and artists. Beautifully displayed through countless acres, and even throughout the town. It's a great place to visit art and experience Jersey nature, and for me it was a great date with my girl. I recommend it for couples, families and kids read more

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This is my happy place. I want to visit at least once every year to recharge. Took my daughter here for her birthday and because she's my child, she was in complete heaven. I mean what's better than giant people sculptures in the middle of beautiful greenery and exotic flowers.. it's friggin amazing. We just happened to go on an absolutely gorgeous day with no drop of humidity and a nice breeze. I can't tell you how much fun I had coming across these awesome pieces of art. Then, you throw in a waterfall, koi pond, view of the lake with beautiful duck friends.. oh yeah, and a couple peacocks just a walkin along. Allow yourself a few hours to really take everything in at a leisurely pace. There should be no rushing here! This is one of the gems of New Jersey. read more

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Driving from Philadelphia to New Jersey, Grounds For Sculpture is a MUST STOP to add to your list. Located in Hamilton, New Jersey, this 42 acre sculpture park is truly an amazing place to spend a few hours admiring all kinds of very unique sculptures and even take photos with many of them closely. This large sculpture garden was founded in 1992 and features close to 300 sculptures by well known artists and also has seasonal exhibits. There are also peacocks that roam the garden. Although very beautiful to look at, keep your distance as they will attack you if they feel threatened. Admission is cheaper if you purchase on line ($18 for adults, $15 for seniors 65 years old and older and students and children under 18 cost $10, regardless if you pay in person or on line). There is a special that if you come in after 5 pm on weekends, it only cost $12 but has to be purchased online. This place closes at 9 pm so it is possible to see nearly everything within that time frame if you want to save some extra money. There are also free docent led tours, but you need to contact guest services to make sure you sign up for that on the day of your visit so you do not miss out (we didn't know about this until much later). My husband and I came here on a Saturday afternoon, around 2:15 pm. Being that the sculptures are outdoors (but there are some indoor exhibits), you should wear a large brim hat and wear sun block (and maybe some bug spray if you come during the summer months like we did). After we were directed to park in a lot that was near Peacock Cafe (please note that there are 2 entrances to this sculpture garden and there are a handful of eateries on site), we used the restroom (please note that there are only so many restrooms located around this place so I would suggest that you use it before you start your day) and were on our way to see as many things as possible. We ended up spending about 2.5 hours here and saw almost everything. I think if we stayed another 1 hour, we would have seen everything. So do plan your day accordingly if you wish to see everything, including all of the indoor exhibits. We really enjoyed our time at this sculpture garden and would definitely come back. read more

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Good daytime activity in Jersey. We spent about 2 hours here. Good place to walk around/good exercise & many photo-worthy spots. I enjoyed looking at the different artwork. The cafe seemed like it could use some improvement. read more

Omg, this place is marvelous. Different perspectives and points of view from different artists. Most of the designs and placement are amazingly placed together and enjoy them with marvel. Some of it is placed witly to tickle your brain. A truly must-see attraction in New jersey. Reserve your ticket online ahead of time cause they sure get pretty crowded, and they turn people away. You get a discount if you're an educator, student, first responder, healthcare workers, military, and more... just make sure to bring a valid identification. Everything else, just be ready to walk miles and miles and enjoy the art. read more

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This place is amazing. Unexpected, even after reading the reviews. Don't read the reviews. Just go. Really. Just go. You're still reading. Okay. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This place takes pictures, and builds a beautiful place for you to experience them. So what's that worth? It's worth visiting, obviously. Just go. I have a ton of photos, and I think photos are important, but I'm not posting them here. Go take your own. You'll be glad , I promise. Okay, just this one picture, but only because I love it so much. Have fun. You're welcome. read more

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

Grounds for Sculpture is one of my favorite places! I tend to go at least 1-2 times / year, because visiting family members always like to go again. This time it was my 10-year old niece, who couldn't wait to go back! I've been here at least a dozen times and absolutely love this place.... the landscape, the foliage, and the incredibly crafted sculptures are all amazing. One of the great things is that the sculptures tend to change and rotate, so you are bound to see something new every visit! I've seen at least one or two new sculptures each trip. The life-size sculptures impressively depict everything from everyday life activities to the more unique sculptures. Peacocks also roam the grounds. This time we happened to see 3 of them. Spring and summer lends itself better to taking in the landscape and flora in bloom, but I've been here in the fall and winter as well. Admission fees also vary by season. The current admission for summer time is $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 Students (6-17 year old) and Free for under 5. If you purchase your tickets on-line, you can save a few dollars. All in all its a great way to spend a few hours or a whole day with family or friends. Highly, highly recommend! read more

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I think the attractions themselves are very interesting and I could see myself spending an entire day here, but the service the day I went was so disappointing! Right when I pulled up, the person at the gate asked if we had gotten tickets online and I said no, so he told me he'd give us wristbands so that we could get into the welcome center and then buy tickets. After getting the wristbands I tried driving forward but he wouldn't lift the gate. He said "obviously" I had to pay now which is not what he said, and mumbled under his breath about us trying to drive away. Like, really? Sorry if I didn't know the wristbands were the same as tickets (after you said they were different from tickets) but don't trash talk me while I'm right in front of you. Throughout the park, the staff would either ignore our questions, roll their eyes, scoff, or say they didn't understand our question (in the last case she literally just walked away from me after saying it). If it happened once I could have chalked it up to that person having a bad day...but the fact that it happened 7 times with different staff members? It got to the point where their attitude started rubbing off on us and my group and I decided to leave before having to deal with more of it. The park is fun and I think the tickets are an okay price...but wow their staff can be a lot more cordial. I'm not really interested in returning to a place that makes rude comments to my face and makes it obvious that my questions are an inconvenience to them. Aside from the staff's behavior, the park is a cool place with lots to explore. read more

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

So much to see and you can spend all day if you'd like. Everything is well kept and there's a lot of beautiful art and nature.

My visit was on a Monday afternoon and there weren't a lot of people there so it was easy to take pictures of sculpture and enjoy the quiet scenery. Besides the sculptures, the different trees and plants are what makes this place beautiful. I will definitely be going back to visit soon. And the price was very affordable. read more

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So many great things to see! A thoroughly pleasant experience. Suggestion: Study up on what you would like to see upon arrival... signage and mapping not the most defined. Interactive website does not really help if you don't know which direction you'd like to go for viewing specific works of art. read more

We went at night and expected the sculptures to be more illuminated than they were. Many of us had to light our way, and the sculptures, by using the flashlight on our phones. There's definitely enough to see, but maybe we would've had a better experience during the day. I was able to take pictures of the sculptures that had pretty good lighting. read more

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A must-do trip for anyone in New Jersey. I'm a local, born-and-raised Jersey boy and I didn't even visit until the pandemic, which coincidentally was a great way to socially distance ourselves outdoors. The property is massive and never ends, with little nooks and crannies of statues and pieces, some hidden and tucked away. Makes for a great game of artsy hide and seek. While it rained on our parade (literally), it still didn't take away the shine of the experience in itself. Swing by nearby Princeton for a quick touristy visit en route home. read more

Grounds for Sculpture is one of the best places to visit in New Jersey. Yes that is a bold statement. They currently have limited entry, so you need to book in advance on their website. It turns out that we picked a really good day to go. We enjoyed it even more because they weren't overcrowded. The facility is basically very, very interesting sculptures and statues with a modern twist, set in beautiful gardens. My mom worked at the agriculture department for her career, and even she was impressed with the quality of the gardens. They must have a very well trained staff schooled in horticulture in place. I can say with a reasonable amount of confidence that the whole family will enjoy it. These days with the coronavirus, it's even more enjoyable because everything is outside. Also with cell phone cameras, you will have so many opportunities to take funny photos. We heard good things about the restaurant on site, but we ate elsewhere that day. I will have to go back. All the statues are pretty modern, so maybe I would've appreciated seeing some cool older ones, too. There was one sign, which was very small, that described the history of the grounds. It goes back to the 18th century when Trenton was one of the most important cities in the United States. I would've appreciated to have learned more about the history of the facility, so that would be a suggestion for improvement. The cost of admission was $18 for an adult and $15 for a senior citizen, which I felt was totally reasonable for the amount of work that is involved in taking care of that facility. It'll keep you busy for about three hours. read more

These grounds are one of a kind. Enjoy the meandering trails, the hidden gardens or the lakeside paths - there are many options. Founded by one of the Johnson & Johnson heirs on the former fair grounds, its meandering gardens with larger than life sized art installation of every type you can imagine. Contemporary, modern, imitations of the classics- there is artwork for every palette. Some are nestled away in bamboo groves while another group is standing near the lakeside enjoying a view. Others aren't human replicas at all but interesting angular shapes or arbitrary shapes. There's interesting foliage throughout and the large pond near Rats restaurant is covered in beautiful Lilly pads, a nod to Monet. I adore this place and was eager to return on my recent NJ visit. It fostered my early interest in art actually and I think is a fun family activity for people of all ages. The little indoor cafe, since Rats was closed the day we went, had excellent snacks & goodies which we enjoyed. The garbanzo bean salad was outstanding! And their coffee is tasty too. We visited the interior display area this time with a docent who was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us a ton of information on the museums roots and establishment. Most of which I'd previously been ignorant to. The replicated 9/11 scene immediately near the entry is reason enough to go as it is quite humbling but still a reflective homage to those who perished. This art museum is one fun place to spend a day. read more

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Night Forms at the Sculpture Park is amazing. It is definitely worth experiencing. Dress warm! I wore heated pants and still needed to defrost in the warming hut. But it was totally worth it. Night Forms is a must see exhibit. This exhibit ends on April 3, 2023 and you have to reserve tickets in advance. The tickets designate what time you are able to show up. This allows for crowd control, making for a more pleasant experience. It's better to avoid weekends because of the higher volume of people seeking photo opportunities during the weekend. read more

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Grounds for Sculpture is a hidden gem in Hamilton Township, Mercer County New Jersey. Each walk-through is a new experience, with new artists, and new eye-opening ways to see our world through many sculptors from all over the globe. Visionary Seward Johnson turned the old NJ State Fairgrounds into a beautiful place for all. And, by all means, take in the computerized light shows that transform the common exhibits into enthralling three-dimensional stories. All ages benefit from these exhibits and there is no doubt that a stop at Grounds for Sculpture is a must for anyone near or passing through the Garden State. read more

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Grounds for sculpture is a must, any age will enjoy it! I feel so fortunate to live close to such a beautiful, awesome place! It's huge and I've been there several times I'm not certain I've even explored every section. The art, sculptures are beautiful and fun, they switch them out sometimes to have seasonal ones (they have a Marilyn Monroe just for a year, etc). They hold events, have beer garden nights out. There's so much beauty, a pond, a lake, that's next to Rat's restaurant, which is delish BTW. A great wedding spot, the gift shop and indoor exhibits are cool too. Lots of parking and reasonable prices. Great place for a stroll, a date, taking your toddlers even. Definitely recommend! read more

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

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I've gone a total of 4 times & every single visit was amazing! To start, it's been 3 years since my last visit, so these images are old(& some pieces may not still be there)Since I'll be visiting again soon, I thought it be fitting to share my thoughts from my first experience. Please Note: This post will have an obnoxiously excessive use of the word Magical. Upon entering GFS, a euphoric kid like feeling came over me. Not only was I in awe, the smile on my face stayed my entire visit! This place filled with enormous life like sculptures, some entwined with nature, trees, grass, flowers as if the pieces of art came out of the ground itself is magical. It's one of those places a child or adult will remember for the rest of their lives. Due to the 40+ acres of magical Art, sculptures, landscapes and scenic beauty I have yet to see the entire property. Some tips, don't wear heels, unless you're doing a photoshoot, so pack a comfortable shoe to wear around, bring water, travel light (like fanny pack light)make sure your phone is fully charged, Read the Signs, visit on a weekday instead of the weekend (it'll be less strangers in your photos).Don't forget to grab a map, it really helps to know what and where you are so you know where and what else needs to be discovered! GFS rotates art to different parts of the muesum and other times it's only for a limited time.. (mostly because it's a traveling piece or borrowed). Lastly there's a lovely restaurant on the grounds, & there are two beautiful peacocks roaming freely, if you're lucky you may spot one or both! Overall this magical place is an Art lovers paradise and if you know the work, love and dedication that goes into creating sculptures and art in general, make this a yearly experience. Especially if you live in NJ or are visiting, I'd absolutely, positively recommend a visit to Grounds For Sculpture!! read more

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Don't bother with the Night Forms show. It's boring, takes 30 min to walk through. Definitely NOT worth the ticket price.

These grounds are beautiful. The sculpture is not only the statues it is the trees and plants and flowers. This is a must see. We spent 4 hours with lunch at RATS. read more

Grounds For Sculpture - RATS IN GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE - Museums Near Me - Hamilton, New Jersey

Very unusual place. They display many, many different types of many different subjects, including human figures, animals, etc. One in particular was of a huge half naked woman laying in the sun with her black cat. In full color as well. All sculptures are done by artists who are mainly sculpture specialists. Some up to 20 feet tall! A beautiful place to walk around, something like a maze, but you really can't get lost. Be prepared to do a lot of walking however. You can rent motorized scooters for several hours, but if you do come late before they close, it is the same price for one hour or four. Come see it. Definitely something different to do. read more