Hunnewell Estates Historic District, Nineteenth-century estate complex in Wellesley, United States.
The Hunnewell Estates Historic District is a nineteenth-century estate complex extending between the Charles River and Lake Waban, containing multiple residences, gardens, and agricultural land across more than 500 acres. The properties remain in family ownership and are protected through conservation agreements with a nonprofit organization.
The area began in 1763 with Samuel Welles's land purchase but truly developed when H. Hollis Hunnewell built estates for his children between 1851 and 1891. This period of growth shaped it into the large private holding it remains today.
The district features the first topiary garden in the United States, where carefully trimmed pine and arborvitae trees stand in geometric shapes along Lake Waban. This designed landscape continues to shape the appearance of the area and reflects the residents' devotion to precise garden art.
The grounds are not freely open to visitors since they are privately owned, though the area around Lake Waban offers public pathways. It makes sense to explore the surroundings from outside or join organized tours if available.
The estate holds a collection of over 500 species of woody plants, including some of the oldest cultivated rhododendrons in the country. This botanical diversity results from decades of collecting and gardening that underscores the place's importance as a living botanical garden.
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