Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) is a sculpture park and museum which has a bunch of cool outdoor installations and exhibitions. GFS is located in my hometown of Hamilton, New Jersey—only about 50 miles away from Philadelphia. Hamilton, a suburb of Trenton, is also close to Princeton University.
I remember passing GFS everyday on my way to high school, as its many installations are actually spread beyond the limits of the park, near the Hamilton Train Station and lining the sidewalks around my high school’s neighborhood. One of the museum’s most famous sculptures was a ginormous Marilyn Monroe statue with her iconic white dress blowing up in the air, known as “Forever Marilyn.”
While I have surprisingly never been to the museum, some of my favorite parts of the park are the familiar resident peacocks on display, the largeness of the park, and the interspersed sculptures in the area.
One thing I find especially interesting is the history of the sculptures as the land around them has changed over time. Directly across the road from the Hamilton Train Station used to sit a flooring plant, which has since been demolished to rubble for land developments. A statue still stands right outside the plant, eerily suggesting the awkward passage of time.
This summer, I actually hope to go to the park! In all my years of living here, I have always wanted to go. If you want to visit the museum, it’s a quick SEPTA ride away (ride to Trenton, with a transfer on NJ Transit toward Hamilton). The nearby town of Princeton would be a nice day excursion, too!
