Turtle Bay Gardens Historic District

Turtle Bay Gardens is an urban enclave that stands as a diminutive oasis in the city. Named for a cove off the East River, where turtles were once abundant, the twenty brownstone houses were all constructed in the 1860s. They were subsequently purchased in 1919-20 by Mrs. Walton Martin, who filled in the swampy backyards to create a communal, interior garden court, a key feature of the district.

Although no two brownstones have identical floor plans, most are four stories high with English basements. Their simply designed facades make use of harmonious neutral colors and feature symmetrical fenestration, occasionally accented by neoclassical enframements and pediments. On the garden side, delicate balconies and porches provide a sensitive backdrop for the garden. Low masonry walls separate each private garden and surround the shared central esplanade, which is graced by a replica of a fountain from the Villa Medici in Florence. The complex's name inspired an homage in the form of a cast iron turtle, displayed on the gate posts of the entrance railing, and the characteristic charm of the 1920s interior garden design resembles that of an intimate Italian garden.

Over the years, the gardens have attracted and inspired distinguished personalities from various disciplines. Some prominent residents include writers E.B. White and Kurt Vonnegut; actors Katherine Hepburn, Mary Martin and Tyrone Power; conductor Leopold Stokowski; and composer Stephen Sondheim. ©2014