The Rockefeller Center Roof Gardens
After the last paying visitor left and the doors finally closed on the Gardens of the Nations in 1938, the gardens themselves remained virtually in tact for a number of years. Even as late as the 1960’s the English Garden looked remarkably untouched as this photograph, right, from 1961 shows.
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It is understood that during the 1970’s or 1980’s much of what remained was removed to make way for utility buildings,
machinery and air conditioning, very little of what Ralph had created was left.
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When Ralph’s granddaughter and her husband visited the eleventh floor gardens in 2007, they were met by scant remnants of what had once been there. A dry stone wall. A tree. A lawn and the remains of the river and International Rock Garden. The gardens on top of the British Empire Building and La Maison Francaise, also designed by Ralph, fared better and, even today, remain as Ralph had intended, both having been fully restored in 1987.
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The eleventh floor gardens, or what was left of them, were not available to visit. Only the lucky few or maintenance staff had access. But in late 2017, that was about to change.
Rockefeller Center Hostesses
within the English Garden.
Rockefeller Center Roof Gardens, reborn!
NBCUniversal, the current leaseholders, set out ambitious plans to reopen the gardens to employees and their guests. And, after months of construction, which included adding new paths, planting trees and using many of the same flowers from Ralph’s original design, the gardens reopened in the summer of 2018.
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As part of his research for a visual display to illustrate the history of the gardens, William Bartlett PhD, the then staff historian for NBC contacted this website for background information about the original ideas and plans which both architect Raymond Hood and Ralph Hancock had developed. Dr Bartlett also spoke with Christine Roussel, the archivist for the Rockefeller Center.
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The result of his research is a wonderful display of photographs, letters and other historical documents illustrating the development of the Gardens of the Nations. It also included information about Ralph Hancock, his Royal patronage and his achievements.
The display can be seen among the images below.
The display showing how the gardens used to look and a brief history of Ralph's career
​The Gardens Reborn
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After months of planning and construction NBCUniversal will reopen the rooftop Gardens later this summer for all employees and their guests to enjoy. Although the addition of utility buildings over the years has altered the footprint, the new design evokes the serenity and beauty of the original, using many of the same trees and flowers chosen by Hancock, along with the ancient sundial that featured in the English Gardens.
The text of the yellow plaque shown left
Visit by Ralph’s granddaughter
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In December 2018, at the invitation of Dr William Bartlett, Ralph Hancock’s
granddaughter, Dr Belinda Dure-Smith accompanied by her husband, Dr Andrew Hull,
visited the newly opened gardens and employee area. Dr Dure-Smith is seen here,
right with her husband Dr Hull by the International Rock Garden.
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They were fortunate enough to be shown the incredible work undertaken by
NBCUniversal in bringing these once neglected gardens back from the brink. The
gardens now have a purpose and a new lease on life. It would have been impossible
to recreate them exactly as they were in 1935. Much of the footprint of the
original “eighth wonder of the world” had been consumed by development and
none of the original features exist apart from some of the Cotswold stone walls, red
brick herringbone pathways and a few items of wrought ironwork.
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From the photographs on this website, taken during her visit in 2018, we can see the new features installed by NBCUniversal. Paved areas of flagstones in what appear to be a complimentary colour to the original yellow Cotswold paths. Handrails and new lighting have also been put in place.
New handrails and freshly cleaned flagstones
The sundial from Ralph's Private Garden
New access from the 11th floor
Wrought iron from the Spanish Garden
Truncated river with Rock Garden
Another area reinstated by NBCUinversal
The lawn, herringbone paths and Cotswold stone walls are all that remain of what was The English Garden.
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Ralph had his own private garden within the English Garden, the remnants of which can be seen above. His office
overlooked a water feature which was removed along with other features during the 1970’s or 1980’s.
The hand-made sundial which once sat within Ralph's garden oasis has been moved to a small tear-droped shaped garden (see above) which is itself surrounded by a low Cotswold stone wall.
Ralph's Herringbone Pathway
Flagstones and trees
An espalier fruit tree planted by Ralph
The new entrance to the Gardens
The plan of the NBCUniversal Roof Garden