Alice in Wonderland Statue Central Park | The Climbable Bronze Classic

The Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park is a 11-foot bronze sculpture group that children are encouraged to climb, dedicated in May 1959.

On the north side of Conservatory Water, a cluster of bronze characters has been a New York City landmark for over six decades. The Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park is more than a memorial—it’s one of the few public sculptures in the city explicitly designed for children to climb on, and they’ve been doing exactly that since 1959.

Here’s what to know before you visit, including exactly where it sits, who made it, and how the details of this beloved piece break down.

What Is This Sculpture And Who Commissioned It?

It’s a bronze sculpture group showing Alice and the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, Dormouse, and other characters from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Sculptor José de Creeft created the work, using illustrations from the 1865 first edition of the book as his visual reference.

George Delacorte commissioned the piece as a gift to the children of New York and a memorial to his wife, Margarita. It’s sometimes called the Margarita Delacorte Memorial for that reason. The dedication ceremony took place on May 7, 1959, with eleven Delacorte grandchildren doing the unveiling.

Two personal touches make the faces meaningful: Alice’s features were modeled after Donna Maria, Creeft’s own daughter, while the Mad Hatter bears the likeness of George Delacorte himself.

Where Exactly Is It Located?

The sculpture sits on the north side of Conservatory Water, the park’s classic model-boat pond. NYC Parks lists the official location as 76th Street and 5th Avenue, near Conservatory Lake. You’ll often hear people reference East 74th Street, East 76th Street, or simply “near the boat pond”—they’re all pointing at the same spot along Fifth Avenue’s eastern edge of the park.

Getting there is straightforward: enter at Fifth Avenue and 72nd or 76th Street and walk toward the water. The piece is visible from the path, and you’ll typically hear it before you see it—the sound of kids scrambling over bronze is part of the experience.

What Are The Design Details And Specs?

The sculpture is a substantial piece, standing 9 feet 7 inches tall with a 14-foot-6-inch depth, according to the official NYC Parks monument records. It’s cast in bronze and set on a Chelmsford granite base, surrounded by a 67-foot-diameter esplanade.

The surrounding terraced landscape was designed by Hideo Sasaki & Associates, and the Central Park Conservancy calls it one of the few examples of modern landscape architecture in the park. Climbing is not just allowed—it was the designer’s intention, and the worn-smooth bronze on the characters’ outstretched arms is evidence of sixty-plus years of small hands doing exactly that.

Is It Free To Visit And What Should You Know?

Yes, entry is completely free. The sculpture sits in open parkland with no gate or ticket booth. It’s accessible from multiple Fifth Avenue entrances, and the surrounding area has benches, shade, and the model-boat pond right beside it for a full afternoon outing.

Two practical notes for your visit:

• It’s a popular photo spot, so expect to wait your turn on weekends and school holidays. Early weekday mornings are the quietest window.

If you’re planning a trip to the park specifically to see this sculpture, you’ll want to make the most of it. Browse our roundup of Alice in Wonderland statues for replicas and related collectibles worth considering.

For the official record, the Central Park Conservancy’s page on the Alice in Wonderland sculpture confirms the location, history, and the landscape architecture credit. The NYC Parks monument record adds the full dimensions and dedication date. Both are worth a look if you want the complete official documentation before your visit.