Pleasure Gardens In New York And Across America

Vauxhall, New York

 New York was the hub for early American pleasure gardens. 

 Vauxhall is one of the most recognized pleasure gardens in America. It was located by Broadway and Bowery, which today are famous places. Though there is a Vauxhall in England, the one in New York was able to stand alone. It was a place that offered co-ed social gatherings with a country club atmosphere. The gardens were huge and kept perfectly manicured. Alcohol and ice cream were served at the gardens. Ice cream was a fairly new treat and it delighted costumers to be able to have a cold refreshment.  A visitor to Vauxhall once remarked “At the side of this…Battery is a Voxhall: it is illuminated at night in the summer and has music and cold refresments. There is another one a mile from town with a much bigger garden. They are both kept by French people who through the sale of ice cream alone have gained a large fortune. Both these places are very much frequented. The inhabitants here are much more lively, much gayer, and enjoy their recreation much more than in Philadelphia.” 

Other gardens soon started to pop up all over New York. Niblo’s Garden, Contoit’s Garden and Palace Garden were all very popular in the late 19^th-early 20^th centuries. They all mimicked each other in design and entertainment. 

After American’s from other states saw how grand the pleasure gardens in New York were they wanted to have them in other states too. The gardens moved down the east coast and spread across America. Men and woman, adults and children, low and upper classes were able to mingle within the gardens. They all were able to enjoy the various forms of entertainment. Alcoholic drinks, ice cream and bandstands wowed Americans and distracted them from their everyday routines. It gave them the perfect escape from reality. The Pleasure Gardens became a big deal in the southern states. The country club atmosphere was fully embraced in the south. Woman particularly enjoyed the Pleasure Gardens, being able to sip tea and gossip with their girlfriends was a great form of entertainment. The experience spawned gardening clubs for the woman across the south.