This era of renewal shaped Ninah’s sense of civic responsibility. She saw firsthand how cultural institutions could restore morale and foster community identity after crisis. The ethos of rebuilding — of turning loss into opportunity — would later echo in the founding of the Cummer Museum after another tragedy decades later.
The Gardens: Design, Inspiration, and Evolution
The gardens of the Cummer estate are integral to its history and identity. Over time, three major garden spaces took shape: the English Garden, the Italian Garden, and the Olmsted Garden.
- The English Garden, designed in 1903, was among the first formal gardens in Jacksonville. It featured geometric flowerbeds, fountains, and wrought-iron gates that framed the view of the river.
- The Italian Garden, added later, drew inspiration from the gardens of the Italian Renaissance, incorporating symmetry, balustrades, and reflecting pools. Its design emphasized tranquility and perspective, directing the eye toward the St. Johns River.
- The Olmsted Garden, created in the 1930s by the firm founded by the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, introduced a more naturalistic style with winding paths and native plantings, complementing the formality of the earlier designs.
These gardens became outdoor galleries — living artworks that mirrored the Cummers’ taste for harmony between art and nature. Their preservation remains one of the museum’s greatest achievements. shutdown123