Photo by Coco McCabe
The elegant and deeply diverse plantings of this public garden bloom with vibrancy that's more than a century in the making.
Long Hill was owned and cared for by the Sedgwick family from 1916 to 1979, their beloved summer home that, in the 1950s, became their year-round haven. Mabel Cabot Sedgwick, an accomplished gardener and author of The Garden Month by Month, and her husband, Ellery Sedgwick, noted author and editor of The Atlantic Monthly, summered here until Mabel passed in 1937. After Mabel’s death, Ellery married Marjorie Russell Sedgwick, a rare plants specialist. The combined creative vision of these two women led to the design of Long Hill’s enchanting gardens, surrounded by more than 100 acres of woodland.
Today, visitors delight in the beauty of Long Hill’s structured and naturalistic gardens as well as a network of woodland trails. A diverse collection of trees, shrubs, and distinctive perennial plants provide color during the growing season, peaking in May and June and providing structure and beauty throughout the year. With an ever-growing calendar of public events and festivities, you’ll find ample reason for frequent returns.
The Long Hill grounds are open year-round. From April 11–September 21, visitor services will be available Friday–Sunday, and tours of the house will be available Saturday–Sunday.
Since The Trustees assumed ownership of the property in 1979, we have maintained the excellent vision of the Sedgwick family and continue to offer an incredible visitor experience inside this public garden.
Main House
Here you can relax in the music room, read a book from our library, watch a introductory video on the property, and shop or enjoy refreshments in our gift shop.
Historic Sedgwick Gardens
Today our visitors can take in the sweet aromas, vivid colors, and botanical diversity of the historic Sedgwick gardens, where there are five acres of cultivated grounds that are laid out in a series of separate garden ‘rooms’, rendered in an informal or ‘Wild Garden’ style, accented by ornaments, statuary, and mature plantings that blend seamlessly into the woodlands.
Summer Garden
Designed by Julie Moir Messervy in 2020, this stunning new garden features a beautiful design that drew inspiration from many other features of the property. Julie Moir Messervy is the principal designer of JMMDS, a landscape architecture and design firm in Saxtons River, Vermont, creators of public and private gardens around the country. Her best-known work, the three-acre Toronto Music Garden, was designed in collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and received the Leonardo da Vinci Award for innovation and creativity.
Grounds and Trails
Surrounding the formal gardens, guests can hike around the neighboring woodland on a network of trails, including the main 1.2 mile loop trail. Other areas of interest include the apple orchard, children’s gardens, and garden production spaces.
Tours and Programs
Check out our tour and program offerings in the Things To Do section. Registration for all tours can be done online.
Gardens and Grounds
Admission: FREE
Enjoy our network of trails and explore our beautiful gardens.
Self-Guided House Tours
Admission: FREE
Visitors are welcome to explore the first floor of the Sedgwick house at their own pace. Enjoy the use of our garden reference library and purchase refreshments from our convenience counter.
Guided House and Garden Tours
Admission: $15 (Members); $20 (Non-Members); $10 (Children 12 and Under)
Enjoy an in-depth look at the history of the Sedgwick house and gardens in a tour led by a trained staff member.
Private Group Tours
Private tours can be arranged for group visits. Click the button below to book a group tour.
Please contact the manager of visitor services at rullrich@thetrustees.org for more information.
576 Essex Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Telephone: 978.281.8400
Get directions on Google Maps.
From Rt. 128 Exit 18, take Rt. 22 North 1 mi. Bear left at split in road and continue for 0.2 mi. on Essex Street to entrance on left (use the entrance drive at the purple welcome sign; the old entrance is now Exit Only). After the gatehouse, follow signs for House & Gardens parking (space for 50 cars), up the driveway on left, or the Horticultural Learning Campus lot to the right and behind the yellow farmhouse.
Accessible features
Accessible restrooms are available in the old carriage house at the top of the drive.
ADA accessible parking spaces and access into the house. In addition, while not specifically ADA accessible, we are improving paths around the gardens for our visitors with limited mobility to more easily negotiate.
Long Hill offers an enchanting landscape for weddings and other private events, with naturalistic gardens and a tented patio designed to complement the central and elegant Federal-style home.
By hosting a wedding or other event at Long Hill, your contribution supports The Trustees efforts to protect and preserve many of the irreplaceable landscapes and landmarks that make Massachusetts special.
Long Hill is available for tented events for up to 140 people, spring, summer, and fall. Events are held Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings beginning at 4 PM.
We recommend that you take a photo of the map on your phone so you can refer to it during your visit, or download a trail map before you head out.
We hope you enjoy your visit. For your safety, and to help protect this unique resource, we ask that you please comply with the following regulations:
The following are prohibited at Long Hill:
Note: Please check locally at property for posted advisories and regulations.
Discover the revitalized public gardens and historic houses at two special places on the North Shore.
In 1916, this 114-acre hillside property attracted Atlantic Monthly editor and publisher Ellery Sedgwick and his wife for its lovely views of the rural North Shore. But Mabel Cabot Sedgwick, an accomplished gardener, had more ambitious – and aesthetic – ideas.
