Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park is located in Canandaigua, New York, about 20 miles Southeast of Rochester. We are located about 2 miles north of Canandaigua Lake, one of the Finger Lakes. Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion was designated a NY State Historic Park in March 2006. Sonnenberg is one of 5 State Historic Parks in the New York State Parks System. As part of the parks system, the Sonnenberg Estate is owned by the State, but through a cooperative agreement, operated by the non-profit, Sonnenberg Gardens. The park is open from mid-May until mid-October for the garden season. During the rest of the year the park is closed except during periodic special events.
The park is comprised of a 52 acre section of the original Frederick Ferris Thompson and Mary Clark Thompson Estate. The couple owned the estate from 1863 until 1923 when a widowed Mary Clark Thompson died. In 1931, during the Great Depression, Mary''s nephew sold what was by that time, his estate, to the federal government. The government then converted the farmland into the campus for their new Veteran''s Administration Hospital. The mansion, Sonnenberg, was used for housing for some of the hospital''s staff. In 1970, a group of local citizens formed The Friends of Sonnenberg, with the intention of restoring the grand estate to its former splendor. In 1972, the group was given the 52 acres that now make up the park. Through their efforts, the gardens, which had been neglected were slowly brought back to their former glory.
Today, the park employs a small full time staff and seasonal workers. It relies heavily on volunteers who work in the museum, gardens, conservatories, admissions, and wine center. Revenue from ticket sales, events, membership, and donations funds the estate''s day to day operation.
