Local Attractions
The Bronx Zoo
Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road
(718) 367-1010
The Bronx Zoo's 265 wooded acres is home to more than 4,000 animals, including some of the world's most endangered species. It is also the largest metropolitan wildlife conservation park in the United States. Call for hours and admission fees. Disabled Access: Yes.
Bronx County Historical Society
3309 Bainbridge Avenue
(718) 881-8900
The Bronx County Historical Society offers visits to The Museum of Bronx History and the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, the writerÂ’s residence at his death in 1849. The Museum is at 1758 Valentine-Varian House, a part of Revolutionary War history. Artifacts from everyday mid-18th century life are displayed and special exhibitions on various aspects of Bronx history. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage has been refurbished and restored to look as it did when Poe wrote some of his best-known works here, including Annabel Lee, Ulalume, The Bells, and Eureka. A guided house-tour and audio-visual show bring the writer to life for visitors. Call for hours and admission fees. Disabled Access: No.
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
Pelham Bay Park
(718) 885-1461
The Bartow-Pell mansion, a neo-classic stone mansion is an architectural masterpiece with its Greek Revival details and elegant freestanding elliptical staircase. The 19th century Empire decor is an example of the finest quality found in New York homes at that time. Furniture, decorative arts, and paintings of that period have been on loan to the house from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum of the City of New York, and private collections. The mansion also contains its own distinguished collection. Call for hours and admission fees. Disabled Access: No.
New York Botanical Gardens
200th Street & Kazimiroff (Southern) Blvd.
(718) 817-8700
Forty acres of New York City's original forest are contained in the 250 acres of this botanical treasure, one of the largest and oldest in the country. Special attractions include: 16 display gardens, walking trails, and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a landmark turn of the century crystal palace which houses jungles, deserts, a palm court, fern forest, and seasonal displays. Special events take place year round. Call for hours and admissions fees. Disabled Access: Yes.
Judaica Museum of the Hebrew Home for the Aged
5961 Palisade Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
(718) 548-1006 / (718) 549-8700 ext. 294
Overlooking the Hudson River, this fine museum is located on the campus of the Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, in the Norman and Adele Morris Wing of River House West. The collection features artifacts reflecting the customs and ceremonies of European and Oriental Jewry over the last three centuries. The Museum houses the Ralph and Leuba Baum collection of more than 800 Jewish ceremonial objects. Along with the collectionÂ’s permanent exhibits, visitors can enjoy temporary exhibitions featuring local artists and collections of beautiful and important works in silver, gold, pewter, brass, ivory, wood, and rare embedded textiles. Call for hours, admission fees, and information on holiday programs and family workshops. Disabled Access: Yes.
Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse
(718) 681-6000
The Bronx Museum of the Arts was founded as a county fine art museum to serve the ethnically diverse population of the Bronx and to stimulate community participation, primarily through the visual arts. Permanent collection features 20th-century and contemporary works of art by artists from Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as American descendants from those origins. The collection now comprises over 800 objects including paintings, drawings, photographs, mixed media work, video, sculpture, installations, watercolors and other small-scale three-dimensional works. Call for hours and admission fees. Disabled Access: Yes.
North Wind Undersea Institute
610 City Island Avenue
(718) 885-0701
The North Wind Undersea Institute was co-founded in 1976 by Michael Sandlofer and performer Richie Havens to educate young people about the plight of the environment. Resources include: the North Wind Rescuarium, where injured or ill marine animals are rehabilitated; the North Wind Museum, a hands-on Learning Center featuring the Undersea World of the Bronx, life-size models of whales, a 100-year-old tugboat and towering whale bones; the Equine Heritage Conservancy to promote the important interrelationships of humans and animals; and several workshops. Call for hours and admission fees. Disabled Access: Partial.
Wave Hill
675 West 252nd Street
(718) 549-3200
This 28-acre public estate's world-renowned gardens, lawns and terraces overlook the Hudson River and Palisades and are home to a woodland restoration project, a landmark mansion, plus a number of arts and environmental programs. Call for hours and admission fees. Disabled Access: Yes.
Van Cortlandt Park
(718) 430-1890
Facilities include swimming, horseback riding, picnicking, handball and tennis. Subway: #1 to "242nd Street"; #4 to "Woodlawn Avenue" then, Bus BX 9 to 244th Street.
Williamsbridge Oval
A pleasant, lightly wooded park with athletic fields and playgrounds located just east of the Moses Division at East 204th Street and Bainbridge Avenue. Call the Recreation Center at (718) 543-8672 for information about their special recreation programs.
