Officially dedicated and opened in April 1939, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens encompass 55 acres of meticulously designed landscapes and 5 miles of beautiful pathways. The idea for the gardens originated from Dr. Frederic M. Hanes, an early faculty member of Duke Medical School, as he frequently walked past the area on his way to work and thought the space had potential to be spectacular. He persuaded Sarah P. Duke, widow of one of the university's founders, Benjamin N. Duke, to finance the garden with a generous donation of $20,000. Initially, in 1935, over 100 flower beds were established, but heavy summer rains led to the gardens' decline. Upon Sarah P. Duke's passing in 1936, Dr. Hanes persuaded her daughter, Mary Duke Biddle, to fund the construction of a new garden as a memorial to her mother. Ellen Biddle Shipman, a prominent figure in American landscape design, was chosen to draft plans for the gardens. Despite modifications over time, the gardens remain a testament to Shipman's vision and are now celebrated as one of the finest public gardens. Divided into four distinct sections—the Historic Gardens, the H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, the W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum, and the Doris Duke Center Gardens—the Sarah P. Duke Gardens continue to captivate visitors with their beauty and diversity.

1935 garden.- Sarah P. Duke Gardens - pergola - c. 1939

8.30.09 Sweet Honey and the Rock, South-lawn, held in the original

Parallel 36° North Marker: marking the imaginary circle of latitude that is 36 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens has been serving the Duke and Durham communities for more than 80 years.