Also, check out the Museum of Botany's Holiday Hybrids in the Show House. As a tribute to the Conservatory's historic role as Museum of Botany (a name bestowed on the Conservatory by the City of Chicago n 1931), a small section of the Show House to will become a botanical museum. This living time capsule will not only display important plants of past decades, but will also address botanical concepts that bring to the forefront the role a conservatory plays in the enduring connection between people and plants.
The Garfield Park Conservatory was designed by celebrated landscape architect Jens Jensen, who created a horticultural masterpiece and historic landmark located amid the beautiful boulevards of Chicago's West Side. The Garfield Park Conservatory is the largest public "glass house" in the nation, displaying hundreds of exotic species of palms, ferns, cacti and tropical plants in landscaped settings under sparkling-clear ceilings, as well as a variety of flora showcased in beautiful outdoor gardens.
The Conservatory is open every day of the year, from 9a.m. to 5p.m. and Thursdays, from 9a.m. to 8p.m. with free admission and parking. (Special exhibit and activities fees may apply.) For the latest information regarding Garfield Park Conservatory's Centennial and programming, call 773-638-1766 extension 13, or GarfieldConservatory.org
The Conservatory is located just fifteen minutes west of downtown. From I-290, exit Independence Avenue (3800 west) and travel north. Turn east onto Washington Blvd. Turn north onto Central Park Avenue (3600 west). The parking lot will be on the left, just before the conservatory. Alternatively, take the CTA Green line and exit at Conservatory/Central Park Drive.
