The Olmsted Gardens, which began as "Iron Mountain" and was nothing more than virgin pines and sandhill scrub, has become home to squirrels and more than 100 bird species. In 1921, Edward W. Bok was spending the winter months in the residential mountain lake community that was located next to the highest hill in the Lake Wales Ridge. He enjoyed taking evening walks to the top of "Iron Mountain" to enjoy the sunsets and bird life. Then the idea came to him to preserve the hilltop and create a bird sanctuary. He then made arrangements to buy the land on the hilltop and commissioned Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., a famous landscape architect at the time, to change the sandhill into "a spot of beauty second to none in the country." After a year of digging trenches and laying water pipes for irrigation and bringing in thousands of loads of rich black soil the hill conditions was perfect for a subtropical garden. Planting of bushes and trees that would provide food for visiting birds began. The reflection pool was created to attract other wildlife. It also gives guests one of the most memorable experiences in the Sanctuary. It is located as to capture the reflection of the Tower and is the first image guests have when entering the gardens.

The Tower came to exsistence when Bok believed that something was missing from the sanctuary and remembered the beautiful sounds of the carillons in his native Holland. He then decided to build a tower as the focal point of the Sanctuary which would contain a large carillon. Bok commissioned architect Milton B. Medary to design and build the carillon tower. The main inspirations for the tower come from Gothic towers and churches of Europe, but also was adapted to enhance the characteristics of the Florida landscape. Lee Lawrie, a sculptor from New York, was commissioned to design the marble sculpture that adorns the Tower. Although the overall design of the Tower is neo-Gothic both Medary and Lawrie incorporated the art-deco influences of the time into the Tower. Construction of the Tower began in 1927 and was dedicated on February 1, 1929.

Pinewood Estate was originally named "El Retiro" and was the winter home of C. Austin Buck, Vice President of Bethlehem Steel. Olmsted was designing gardens at nearby Mountain Lake Estates when he was retained by Buck to design the gardens and site of his estate to take maximum advantage of the Florida landscape. Charles Wait, who was affiliated with the Olmsted firm, designed the house in the Mediterranean Revival-style that many Floridians still enjoy. The house had the appearance of a Mediterranean villa with thick walls, wrought iron details and carved woodwork. Large porches were also incorporated to give clear views of the surroundings. The tiles throughout the house were imported from Cuba by Buck and William Lyman Phillips, an Olmsted representative who had a great love for the tropics, created a series of vistas - a Spanish frog fountain leading into a grotto in front of the house, an Oriental moon gate outside of the dining room, and the long view down a rolling lawn to the lily pool. The entire house was situated to give a spectacular view through the surrounding pine trees. Over the years the estate changed hands several time before it was acquired by the Historic Bok Sanctuary in 1970. The estate was restored to its original design by Rudy Favretti, a nationally recognized restoration landscape architect, the staff of the Historic Bok Sanctuary and a group of volunteers. Work continues today to preserve the estate that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Historic Bok Sanctuary is open 365 days a year from 8am - 6pm with the last admission at 5pm. The Education and Visitor Center is open from 9am - 5pm. General admission tickets are $10 for an adult, $3 for Children (ages 5-12) and Children under 5 are free. Group rates are available with preregistration of 15 or more. A link is provided below for more information and directions to the Sanctuary.