Rockland County Courthouse and Dutch Gardens

The Rockland County Courthouse is a three-story symmetrical building completed in 1928 using Indiana limestone, blending Beaux-Arts and Art Deco styles in its facade and details. Adjacent gardens span several acres with walking paths, flower beds, and seating areas, with a tea house serving as a focal point.

The gardens took shape between 1933 and 1934 as a Depression-era work project, created to honor the county's early settlers and their heritage. The courthouse building itself was completed earlier in 1928 and became the administrative center for the expanding region.

The gardens showcase 17th-century Dutch design elements, with a tea house featuring a brick chimney carved with scenes from Dutch-American community life. The space reflects how early settlers lived and maintained their traditions in this region.

The courthouse remains in active use for government operations, but the gardens are open to the public year-round with walkable paths and seasonal plantings. The grounds are fairly level and accessible, making it easy to stroll through at your own pace.

Mary Horgan Mowbray-Clarke designed and oversaw the garden layout, making it the only New Deal landscape project in the country led by a woman. Her accomplishment stands out as a rare instance of female leadership in a field then dominated by men.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 41.14639,-73.99083

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:43