Virginia Robinson Gardens

The Virginia Robinson Gardens are the period landscape, historic mansion, and botanical gardens located at the Virginia Robinson Estate (6-acre (0.024 km2)) in Beverly Hills, California, United States.[2]

Virginia Robinson Estate
Virginia Robinson residence
and entry garden.
Virginia Robinson Gardens is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Virginia Robinson Gardens
Virginia Robinson Gardens is located in California
Virginia Robinson Gardens
Virginia Robinson Gardens is located in the United States
Virginia Robinson Gardens
Location1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills, California
Coordinates34°5′11″N 118°25′0″W / 34.08639°N 118.41667°W / 34.08639; -118.41667
Area6.2 acres (2.5 ha)
Built1911
ArchitectNathaniel Dryden
Architectural styleBeaux Arts,[1] Renaissance Revival
NRHP reference No.78000679[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 15, 1978

History

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The Virginia Robinson Gardens is the earliest estate in Beverly Hills, California. It was the private residence of Virginia Dryden Robinson and Harry Winchester Robinson, heir to J. W. Robinson's Dept. Store.

The main house was designed in 1911 by architect Nathaniel Dryden, who was Virginia's father, in a Beaux Arts style.[3][4] The residence is furnished with antiques and artifacts collected from around the world.

The Renaissance Revival pool pavilion was built in 1924. Decorative panels of sgraffito ornamentation adorn the Roman arches at the entry to the pavilion's solarium. The pavilion overlooks a long pool with mosaic tile wainscoting.

Gardens

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The Virginia Robinson Gardens range in style and plant type from Italian Renaissance Mediterranean to Tropical Oceanea. The estate has five distinctive gardens:

Access

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The Robinson Gardens are managed by the County of Los Angeles and open to the public for docent tours by advanced reservation only.[5] The Friends of Virginia Robinson Gardens support this landmark. It was listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]Additionally, it holds the status of a California Point of Historical Interest, and is included on the City of Beverly Hills Local Register of Historic Properties.[6][7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ parks.lacounty-Robinson
  3. ^ Pacific Coast Architecture Database: Dryden, Nathaniel
  4. ^ Pacific Coast Architecture Database: Robinson, Harry Winchester, and Virginia Dryden, House, Beverly Hills, CA
  5. ^ FVRG.org-tour
  6. ^ Beverly Hills Courier; "Six Beverly Hills Properties Named Local Historic Landmarks"; Jan. 30, 2013 . accessed 2.9.2013
  7. ^ Supervisor Yaroslavsky blog: "Beverly Hills cultivates some history." February 2013. accessed 2.9.2013
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