02-03-2025
Best Sculpture Park (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of Storm King Art Center No. 10: Storm King Art Center - New Windsor, New York
The Storm King Art Center occupies 500 acres of rolling hills in the lower Hudson Valley. This scenic setting holds a collection of more than 100 contemporary sculptures by some of the world's top artists.
Photo courtesy of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board No. 9: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden - Minneapolis, Minnesota
This free sculpture garden near the Walker Art Center exhibits modern and contemporary works from the museum's collection. Visitors can see more than 60 pieces displayed within the 11 landscaped acres, including the iconic "Spoonbridge and Cherry."
Photo courtesy of FatCamera / E+ No. 8: Griffis Sculpture Park - East Otto, New York
Located in the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York, Griffis Sculpture Park offers a wonderful fusion of art and nature across 450 acres of meadow and forest. The outdoor gallery features over 250 large-scale sculptures that spring organically from the landscape. One of the largest and oldest sculpture parks in the U.S., the space awaits exploration featuring hiking trails that lead past towering metal figures, whimsical creatures, and abstract forms that change character with the seasons. The park has two sections that are 2 miles apart: the Mill Valley Road section and the Rohr Hill Road section.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gadbois No. 7: San Juan Islands Sculpture Park - Friday Harbor, Washington
Located on the northern tip of San Juan Island, this 20-acre sculpture park melds Pacific Northwest wilderness with the inventive vision of both well-known and emerging artists. The park showcases over 150 diverse sculptures along marked trails — you might spot a colorful Native American totem pole near an abstract piece cut from a single stone. Between resident wandering deer and bald eagles soaring overhead, the wildlife is part of the experience.
Photo courtesy of Laumeier Sculpture Park No. 6: Laumeier Sculpture Park - St. Louis, Missouri
Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis was founded in 1976 as one of the first dedicated sculpture parks in the United States. The space features more than 70 large-scale works of outdoor sculpture scattered amid the 105-acre area. Entrance to the park is free.
Photo courtesy of David Steele No. 5: Grounds For Sculpture - Hamilton, New Jersey
Located in Hamilton, New Jersey, Grounds For Sculpture is an arboretum, sculpture garden, and museum focusing on the intersection of art and nature in a playful, jovial way. Spanning 42 beautifully designed acres, the art sanctuary has nearly 300 contemporary sculptures on display.
Photo courtesy of Heather Hillhouse / iStock Via Getty Images Plus No. 4: Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park - Hamilton, Ohio
On 470 rolling, pastoral acres of southwestern Ohio, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park offers a playful way to experience sculpture. The park has a strong focus on contemporary abstract art and showcases more than 70 outdoor pieces spread across meadows, hiking trails, woods, and lakes. You'll see enormous steel sculptures peeking out from native wildflower meadows and carved stone perched on hillsides. Visitors can explore on foot or rent an Art Cart, a souped-up golf cart.
Photo courtesy of Brookgreen Gardens No. 3: Brookgreen Gardens - Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Founded in 1931, the 9,127-acre Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is a sculpture garden and wildlife sanctuary containing over 2,000 works by 430 artists. This National Historic Landmark hosts one of the best American figurative sculpture collections in the world.
Photo courtesy of Duffy Healy No. 2: Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park - Wilson, North Carolina
This whimsical park in Historic Downtown Wilson, North Carolina, showcases the imagination of farm machinery repairman and self-taught artist, Vollis Simpson. The artist's massive kinetic sculptures are akin to towering windmills, but they're made from salvaged industrial parts like old bicycles and road signs, which gives them a whimsical character. The collection features 30 of Simpson's largest sculptures, some reaching 50 feet high. The surrounding green is perfect for plopping on a picnic blanket and watching the whirligigs spin against the Carolina sky.
