Lecture: The Lawrence-Tonetti Waterfall

Join Francesca Costa, Palisades Interstate Park Public Historian; HSRC Programming Director Jennifer Rothschild; and John Ratcliff, grandson of the sculptors Mary Lawrence and François Tonetti as they tell the story of “The Waterfall” and how it has become a popular hiking trail within the park.

This slide presentation and panel discussion explores the fascinating history of The Waterfall, a natural feature enhanced by Lawrence and Tonetti in the early 20th century with stream-fed pools, a Roman-style pergola, and sculptural fountainheads. Once part of the larger Lawrence property in Snedens Landing, it became a favorite spot for moonlit gatherings of guests who arrived by boat,  including fellow sculptors and painters, as well as the renowned architects Charles McKim and Stanford White, who helped design the pergola. This magical spot is now contained within the Palisades Interstate Park, where thousands of hikers pass by its ruins as they descend the Shore Trail to the Hudson River.

About the speaker: Francesca Costa has studied local history since 2019 when she joined the Palisades Interstate Park. She has degrees from Gettysburg College and the University of Edinburgh in Public History and Archeology, though she finds the best education is a long hike in the woods.