Before midtown Manhattan became the heart of the ‘concrete jungle,’ it was home to nearly 2,000 different plant species. Rockefeller Center’s towering commercial skyscrapers sit on a plot of land that was once Elgin Botanical Garden. The first American garden of this kind was founded in 1801 by Dr. David Hosack to experiment pharmaceutically and educate a new generation of doctors, scientists, and botanists.
As New York City grew rapidly, however, the garden became trapped amongst buildings. Further, Elgin left Dr. Hosack’s care and it slipped into a decrepit state. By the early 20th century, all naturality was lost to construction-namely Rockefeller Center and its surrounding buildings. Every trace of Elgin’s natural beauty disintegrated into hundreds of feet of concrete.
A garden once nicknamed ‘America’s Eden’ is gone, but HERO by MATTE Projects has created an immersive experience that brings the beauty and naturality of Elgin Botanical Garden back to life-digitally nonetheless.
BLOOM: The Secret Wonders of New York’s Forgotten Eden is an experience that explores midtown’s natural past. “The mission is to be both incredibly fun and educational at the same time,” said Hannah Duran, one of BLOOM’s immersive performers. “We want to offer a place to revisit the botanical history and experience.” And what better place to put it then at the Rink at Rockefeller Center where it once was?
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