Guided Trip to Bok Tower Gardens with Ruth Grim

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | 8:30am - 6:00pm

Join OMAM Guest Curator Ruth Grim to visit what is truly one of Florida’s most unique sites. Soaring high above the Florida landscape in Lake Wales is a beautifully-designed architectural treasure that also happens to be a giant musical instrument. Inside this 1920s era Gothic revival, Art Deco gem is a 60 pound carillon of stationary bells that are played daily by a carilloneur and can be heard throughout the extensive garden sanctuary designed by the renowned American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.

Our visit will consist of a tour of the gardens by Brendan Huggins, Bok Tower Gardens Horticultural Specialist, the daily carillon concert at 1:00, lunch at the Blue Palmetto Café in the visitor center, and plenty of time to enjoy the gardens on your own time as well as enjoying the stunning views the park offers from atop Iron Mountain, one of the highest spots in Florida.

In addition, tours of a separate 1930s Mediterranean style mansion named “El Retiro” are available (at an additional cost) and provide an interesting view into the lifestyle of wealthy Floridians during this time period. The original Spanish tiles throughout the building speak to a time when the skill of artistic craftsmen was highly sought-after in American interior design.

Our chartered bus will depart from OMAM promptly at 8:30am and will return back to OMAM by 6:00pm. The (non-refundable) trip registration fee ($60 OMAM Museum/Guild members; $70 Future Members) covers transportation, Ruth's discussions, and the guided garden tour. Since Bok Tower is part of the American Horticultural Society, all of our current members will be able to show their OMAM membership card to receive free admission. Those without AHS reciprocal benefits will need to pay admission to Bok Tower upon arrival ($20). Participants are responsible for paying for their own lunch, additional tours, and other expenses.

Don’t miss this unique Florida experience! 

Tentative Trip Itinerary

June 3, 2026

• 8:30AM: depart OMAM
• More details coming soon!
• 6:00PM: arrive at OMAM

About the Curator

Ruth Grim has a Master of Arts from the New York University Institute of Fine Arts with a specialization in 18th and 19th century European art. Her museum career spans 32 years of curatorial work throughout the state including 18 years at the Bass Museum in Miami Beach, seven years at the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala, and more than six years as chief curator at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach.