Dairy Visitor Center & Gift Shop

Photo by Timothy Schenck

The Dairy is a historic building that is now a visitor center and gift shop managed by the Central Park Conservancy.

The Dairy is Central Park's largest gift shop, offering a wide range of products for a wonderful day in the Park and thoughtful gifts for your loved ones.

Conveniently located mid-Park at 65th Street, the Dairy is easily accessible. Plus, every purchase supports the Central Park Conservancy, so you can feel good knowing that your contribution helps care for the Park.

If you don’t have time to swing by the Park in person, you can order many of the items found at the Dairy through the Central Park Conservancy’s online gift shop.

Designed by Calvert Vaux to resemble a Victorian country cottage and completed in 1871, the Dairy is located at the heart of the Children’s District—the area of the Park created specifically for its youngest visitors.

Originally, the Dairy was an eatery where children could get fresh milk, which wasn’t readily available to many urban families. Refreshments were served under the Dairy’s porch, where visitors could enjoy cool breezes from the nearby Pond. The large rolling lawn in front of the building provided a place for children to play.

Retail Family Lawn 3615

SHOP OUR SPRING FAVORITES

Head to the Park’s Dairy Visitor Center & Gift Shop or browse our online store for springtime favorites to elevate your perfect Park day!

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Meet Omi Gray: Harlem's Central Park–Inspired Artist

The Central Park Conservancy is proud to showcase our collaboration with Harlem-based artist Omi Gray. Her unique botanical print collection is now available for purchase at the Dairy gift shop.



Things you can do here

  • Self-Guided Tours

    South End Tour

    Explore one of the most popular areas of Central Park — from the Children’s District to the smallest of the Park’s woodland landscapes.

    Tags: History / Art & Architecture

  • Self-Guided Tours

    A Walk Through Vibrant Blooms and Secluded Trails

    Escape to the oasis within the City and enjoy newly restored landscapes full of blooming flowers.

    Tags: Art & Architecture / Plants and Trees

  • Tours

    Central Park Woodland Walk: Bridge and Pond

    11:00 am

    Engage your senses, calm your mind, and immerse yourself in the Park’s greenery

    Tags: Wildlife / Plants and Trees

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  • Park Information

    Must-Visit Places in Central Park This Winter

    Central Park offers endless opportunities for exploration, boasting an abundance of iconic landmarks, historic locales, and classic NYC backdrops. Our Central Park Conservancy experts put together this list of the best seasonal spots to visit in Central Park to help plan your trip this winter.

    Tags: Families / Best for Kids / Staff Picks / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

  • Restoration and Maintenance

    Restoring the Dairy, Naumburg Bandshell, and Other Beloved Park Features

    Discover what Park features and destinations the Central Park Conservancy is improving this fall.

    Tags: Conservancy Staff

  • About the Conservancy

    One-Stop Summer Shopping at the Dairy Gift Shop in Central Park

    Forget a picnic blanket? Need a last-minute gift? Central Park’s largest gift shop has everything you need this summer.

    Tags: Tips for Visiting / About the Conservancy / Best for Kids / Staff Picks / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

  • Park History

    The Children's District: Then and Now

    Not long after construction of Central Park began, the Park’s designers created the Children’s District in the lower end of the Park.

    Tags: Families / Best for Kids

  • About the Conservancy

    Central Park's Iconic Chess & Checkers House is Revived and Kinderberg Restored

    Central Park's iconic Chess & Checkers House and Kinderberg are newly restored. See how the Conservancy's expert team of landscape architects, architects, project managers, and historians worked to revive the site, a destination for kids of all ages for over 150 years.

    Tags: Conservancy Staff / Park Design / About the Conservancy / Rustic Architecture / History / Park Experts / Landscape Design / Restoration and Maintenance

  • Things to See and Do

    Stories from Central Park

    We set out to capture some of their stories and create a picture of the Park on an average day, through our visitors' eyes.

    Tags: Families / Summer

  • Park History

    Finding Joy in a History of Loss: Juneteenth in Central Park's Seneca Village

    Andrea Buteau of the Central Park Conservancy and composer/curator Andromeda Turre discuss creating a Juneteenth commemoration that is both a powerful act of somber remembrance and celebratory joy.

    Tags: Families / History / Best for Kids / Art Lovers