Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park – Canandaigua NY

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park

Nestled in the picturesque Finger Lakes region of New York, Sonnenberg Gardens is a New York State Historic Park offering one of the few remaining estates in the U.S. with a Queen Anne-style mansion and formal gardens.

Built in 1887, Sonnenberg’s 40-room Mansion offers visitors a glimpse of what life was like in the late nineteenth century. Along with 17 other structures across the 50-acre property, the estate boasts nine formal gardens representing many cultures and historic periods including 12th-century Asia, 4th-century Rome and the French Renaissance. A 20-acre arboretum of rare and exotic trees, plants and unique landscapes stretches across the grounds, while a Lord & Burnham wood-and-glass greenhouse complex of the Victorian period features varieties of orchids, succulents, tropical plants and flowers, as well as vegetables.

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park is one of the nation’s most extensively preserved country estates from the Victorian era. This 50 acre site features beautiful formal and informal gardens, a historic mansion, the Lord & Burnham greenhouse complex and beautiful views of Canandaigua Lake. Sonnenberg’s magnificent Queen Anne style mansion, the former summer home of Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson, was built in 1887. The surrounding gardens were developed between 1902 and 1920 and reflect a variety of styles, including Victorian, Italian, Colonial, and Japanese influences.

Located in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes wine region, the historic park is also home to the Finger Lakes Wine Center. This facility is open to the public during the Sonnenberg garden season; visitors may also enjoy tasting tours and private parties. Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park is the perfect place for a wedding or other family gatherings. The site hosts a variety of popular events throughout the season, including the annual Orchid Show, Rose Week, Moonlight Strolls, Teddy Bear Party and the annual Arts At The Gardens show. Tours of both the gardens and the mansion are also available from May through September.