Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens — Attraction in West Palm Beach

Ann Weaver Norton was a woman ahead of her time. She left Alabama during a time in history when women had little opportunities. She defied her families expectations of becoming a missionary to instead pursue her passion for art in New York and attend Smith College and Cooper Union. She was thwarted twice, once by the Great Depression reducing the demand for art and a second time by WWII which restricted the ability to get metal for her sculptures. She moved to West Palm Beach in 1942 to teach at the Norton School of Art where she became friends with Ralph Norton and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun. After Elizabeth died in 1947 Ralph and Ann married in 1948. Ralph supported Ann's art and built her an art studio. They also enjoyed traveling together before Ralph passed away in 1953. Ann passed away in 1982 and is buried in her home state of Alabama.

Today you can visit Ann and Ralph's historic former home that hosts traveling art exhibits. During our visit there was an exhibit of Murano glass. There are 9 huge works of art in the garden that Ann made the bricks for. Himalaya is the large mountain like sculpture directly behind the house and Gateway to Knowledge is also at Harvard University. Among the sculptures there is more than 250 palms and cycads in the beautifully manicured gardens. You can see even more works of art in Ann's artist studio where her sculpture tools are also on display.

It costs $15 to visit and it takes about an hour. Parking is free on the street if you can find it. I had to put my parallel parking skills to use and I was pretty proud of myself. I may get the hang of it yet. The garden is only open when it's "season" so check the website before you visit. I love art and the beautiful weather made this the perfect thing to do on a...

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re wandering through a secret garden filled with art, history, and just the right amount of Florida sunshine, Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens is your place. Ann Norton’s monumental sculptures blend seamlessly into the lush tropical landscape—each piece telling a story, each pathway leading to a new discovery. As an artist, I’m mesmerized by the way her work interacts with nature, creating an experience that feels both grounding and otherworldly at the same time.

The gardens are peaceful, inspiring, and just the right level of “Instagrammable” without feeling like a tourist trap. One moment you’re marveling at the details of Norton’s sculptures, and the next, you’re contemplating whether you, too, should sculpt massive stone figures in your backyard (spoiler: you probably shouldn’t, HOA won’t allow it).

Between the swaying palms, the dappled light, and the soft ocean breeze, this place embodies everything that makes Palm Beach so magical—art, nature, and a touch of exclusivity. Whether you’re an art lover, a history buff, or just looking for a peaceful afternoon escape, this is a must-visit.

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Was looking on Google for some gardens or nature centers to visit and I came across the Ann Norton sculpture gardens so my wife and I decided to take a ride from Delray and check it out. It was very easy to get to and we found parking easily. When we walked into the building the first floor was an exhibit of a visiting artist and the pieces were spectacular. The building was beautifully decorated and air-conditioned. We spent about 20 minutes on the floor looking at the art/ sculpture then proceeded to the gardens outside. It was a series of sculptures scattered about On a 2+ acre parcel. The outside art was fantastic the studio were Ann Norton worked was beautiful also. As much as we came for the art we were equally impressed with the planting and the well manicured gardens. It was beautiful, everything about the visit was wonderful. The staff was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable. I highly recommend it if you haven’t been there,great...