The Blue Garden Tours

Tour The Blue Garden Reservations Will Be Open for Weekly on Thursdays: June 11 - October 8, 2026 Tour Times: 11:00 AM , 12:30 PM, and 2:00 PM (1-hour long) Recapturing this work of landscape artistry is intended to teach others about the intellectual and pragmatic challenges of restoring and preserving a garden of such historic significance. It is the hope that the Blue Garden serves as an inspiration to further this legacy while reinforcing stewardship values concerning our collective culture. History The Blue Garden opened in 1913 and was the lavish vision of railroad magnate Arthur Curtiss James, and his wife Harriet. Designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the garden was an example of an American era of power, wealth, and aesthetic refinement. In 2014, a meticulously restored Blue Garden once again opened, thanks to the generosity of Dorrance Hamilton, Newport philanthropist. Today the garden is an example of landscape artistry and historic restoration, preserved for our continued enjoyment and education. Restoration With the late 20th-century resurgence of interest in historic landscapes, a new era of methodologies — for research, standards of restoration and rehabilitation, and devising sustainable futures for past landscape glories — has emerged. The Garden The Blue Garden today has been reinterpreted into a palette of lower maintenance blue, purple, and white flowering perennials, annuals, shrubs, and vines - all of which ensure that the garden's unique design intent will be sustained. Visitor Information We will be open every Thursday from June 12 through October 9. Tours are one hour long at 11:00, 12:30, and 2:00 PM. Reservations and an advance fee of $25 are required. Groups of 25 or more can reserve a private tour for $500 and by contacting the Director Sarah Vance at svance@thebluegarden.org. Address and directions to the Blue Garden are sent when tickets are purchased. Reservations and payments are made online. Tickets are refundable 24 hours prior to the date and time of the tour, minus the processing fee. Visit this link to cancel your order. You will need the email used during purchase and the Order Code from your email confirmation. To request an alternate date, please cancel the order for the current date and proceed to book reservations on the preferred date. We are not able to exchange tickets. The garden does not close for rain. In the event of hazardous weather, and the garden is closed, you will be notified and a full refund will be issued. Casual photography is permitted and encouraged. Professional photography is not allowed at any time. All photos are for personal use only and never sold or used for commercial purposes. Please note: We begin in the greenhouse with a short history about the restoration of the garden. Tours are guided, but you are free to walk the garden on your own. The lawn paths in the garden are available for wheelchairs. Prior to parking, guests may be dropped off at the greenhouse. One restroom is available.