Dairy Visitor Center & Gift Shop
The Dairy is a historic building that is now a visitor center and gift shop managed by the Central Park Conservancy.
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.
Behind the Park: The Dairy
Hear from Conservancy staff on the Dairy’s fascinating past and our latest restoration of this historic structure.
The structure eventually deteriorated and was closed to the public in the mid-20th century. In 1979, the Dairy became Central Park's first visitor center and was one of the Conservancy's first restoration projects in the early 1980s. Today the Dairy is a starting spot for many Conservancy tours and a place for visitors to obtain maps, ask staff questions, and buy books, gifts, and many other items.
Can't make it to the Park? Find exclusive Central Park gifts in our online shop.
Support the Park
Become an honorary preservationist and help the Conservancy continue to restore historic structures and landscapes throughout Central Park. Your generous support allows us to carry out essential work so that the Park remains a source of beauty, comfort, and inspiration for all.
Things you can do here
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
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
Tours
Woodlands and Pond Foliage Tour
Discover one of Central Park’s best-kept secrets, home to many native plant species and wildlife, on this guided tour of the Hallett Nature Sanctuary and its surrounding landscapes.
Tags: Wildlife / Plants and Trees
Also in the area
Read more
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
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
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