AN OASIS OF BEAUTY AND PEACE IN A HISTORIC SUB TROPICAL GARDEN SECOND TO NONE

Historic Bok Sanctuary, located near Lake Wales, was founded by Edward Bok who emigrated to the United States from the Netherlands at the age of 6. He went on to become a noted publisher and magazine editor, eventually winning the Pulitzer Prize for his autobiography. In 1921, awed by the tranquility of the area and dramatic sunsets, viewed from the top of Iron Mountain, Bok decided to preserve the hilltop by creating a bird sanctuary. Bok commissioned renowned landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., to change the arid land into an area of beauty second to none, and so this subtropical garden took root.

Believing something was missing and remembering the sound of carillon bells in his native Holland, Bok commissioned famed Philadelphia architect Milton B. Medary to design and build a carillon tower. The best craftsmen and artisans of the day created the timeless musical masterpiece. Medary’s splendid art deco and neo-Gothic Tower was built using a combination of coquina from St. Augustine, Florida, and pink and gray marble from Tate, Georgia. New York sculptor Lee Lawrie’s sculptural carvings adorn the Tower and represent images of Florida’s native flora and fauna as well as nature-based symbolism and stories from Greek mythology and the Bible.

Samuel Yellin, America's premier metalworker, adorned the Singing Tower with a stunning brass door that depicts the Biblical story of creation as well as wrought iron gates on the north side of the Tower. Noted New York Sculptor, Lee Lawrie, created the elaborate marble sculpture that adorns the tower. J. H. Dulles Allen created the massive, intricate and colorful tile grilles that adorn the openings of the bell chamber allowing the sounds of the bells to fill the Sanctuary.

In 1970, Historic Bok Sanctuary purchased the nearby Pinewood Estate. It features a stunning 1930s Mediterranean Revival mansion with gardens also designed by the Olmsted Firm.

Today, Historic Bok Sanctuary is a sanctuary for birds, animals and the human spirit. It blends the beauty of nature and the intrigue of history with an outstanding collection of musical, artistic and architectural masterpieces that enrich the hearts, minds and souls of all who visit. The Sanctuary features beautifully landscaped gardens, a belltower with a 60-bell carillon and the charming seven and a half-acre Pinewood Estate.

FAMILY FRIENDLY ENHANCEMENTS

Historic Bok Sanctuary near Lake Wales offers a place of beauty and serenity and fun ways for families to discover nature. Tiles featuring plants and animals can be used to create rubbings of the image for children to take home. Many other garden enhancements designed to help children discover the natural world include secret garden areas, a vine-covered arbor tunnel, a sandbox near a picnic area, a fort-like “basket” created from willow branches and nap benches. Families are encouraged to check in the Visitor Center upon arrival.

www.boksanctuary.org

1151 Tower Boulevard
Lake Wales
FL 33853

863-676-1408