ANN NORTON SCULPTURE GARDENS

By  Mike Miller September 15, 2025

The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens is a two-acre site in West Palm Beach, Florida. It features monumental sculptures by Ann Weaver Norton.

The gardens include her historic home, artist studio, and rare palm collections. Over 250 tropical plants create a serene setting.

Visitors can explore art, nature, and history. The site is an urban sanctuary in the El Cid neighborhood.  

"Seven Beings" by Ann Weaver Norton, 1965

Ann Weaver Norton was born in 1905 in New Jersey. She studied at the Art Students League in New York.

She married Ralph Hubbard Norton in 1931. He was the founder of the Norton Museum of Art. They moved to West Palm Beach in 1947.

Norton bought the property in 1946 and designed the gardens. She created nine large-scale sculptures from 1950 to 1982. Her works use brick and granite.

The site opened to the public in 1984 after her death. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.  

The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens is at 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. It is in the El Cid Historic District.

The site is closed for summer and reopens in October. Check their website for exact hours.

Guided tours last 60 minutes and start at set times. Self-guided visits allow exploration of the grounds.

Parking is on-site. The gardens have uneven paths. Call (561) 832-5328 for reservations or updates.

Nearby, the Norton Museum of Art offers more exhibits.  

• Norton's largest sculpture, "Temple of the Sun," measures 48 feet and draws from Himalayan peaks.  

• The gardens hold over 300 tropical palm species, one of Florida's largest public collections.  

• Norton's studio preserves her tools and unfinished works from the 1970s.  

• She collaborated with botanist Sir Peter Smithers to plant rare cycads and palms.  

• The site hosts events like Sculpture in Motion, featuring classic cars amid the art. 

ANN NORTON SCULPTURE GARDENS WEBSITE