The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show

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One of the holiday traditions in New York City is the Train Show in the NY Botanical Garden. Every year they turn the Haupt Conservancy into a celebration of model trains and New York history.




Beginning in 1992, the Conservancy has been filled with botanical models of the city’s architectural history. The buildings have been created by Paul Busse and his company Applied Imagination. They are made of leaves, twigs, seeds and other natural materials. Many of the buildings represented no longer exist. You can see the original Pennsylvania Station, and row houses that used to line New York’s streets. 



Pennsylvania Station

Grand Central Terminal



Every year, the master builders at Applied Imagination update some of the buildings. This year they have added models of the new Delacorte Theater in Central Park and the new-ish Whitney Museum in the Meatpacking District.


The Delacorte Theater

The Dairy

The Guggenheim Museum


Throughout this landscape, there weave dozens of G-gauge model trains. Some are historic, some are whimsical. All of them help bring attention to wonderful work that is on display.




NYC Skyline

Coney Island


The Apollo Theater

The TWA Terminal at JFK Airport

The Brooklyn Bridge


When you come to the Botanical Gardens make sure to plan a stop at near-by Arthur Ave, the Little Italy of The Bronx. You will find excellent restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores. You can check out my blog about Arthur Ave.

Nuts and Bolts


  • The NYBG is open Tues - Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00PM
  • Entrance fee (including a timed entrance to the train show) - Adults $39/ students and seniors $35/ children (2-12) $27
  • NYC resident discounts: Tues and Thurs Grounds Passes (no entrance to the train show) Adults $15/ students and senior $7/ Children $4. Wed - NYC resident grounds pass is free.
  • Easiest Public Transportation to the Gardens is by the Harlem Line of the Metro North to the Botanical Garden station Off-Peak $5 one-way Peak $7 from Grand Central and 125th street.
Location: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458, USA

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