Botanical Building, Wooden lath structure in Balboa Park, San Diego, United States
The Botanical Building is a wooden lath structure in Balboa Park that displays more than 2,100 plants in an open, naturally ventilated space. The collection includes cycads, ferns, orchids, and tropical species arranged throughout the building.
Built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition, this structure is one of only four original buildings from that event designed to remain permanently in Balboa Park. It was conceived specifically to house plant collections on a lasting basis.
The Botanical Building was proposed by Alfred D. Robinson, founder and president of the San Diego Floral Society, who wanted a lath house as a feature of the 1915 exposition. The lily pond in front, built in 1915, was used by the navy for swimming lessons during both World Wars.
Visiting is possible in most weather conditions since the roof and structure provide protection from rain while allowing continuous ventilation. Access is straightforward, and there is plenty of space to walk between the plant displays.
The Botanical Building is one of the largest lath structures in the world, a fact often missed by visitors who treat it as a simple garden pavilion. It was proposed by Alfred D. Robinson, founder and president of the San Diego Floral Society, as a feature of the 1915–16 Panama–California Exposition. After closing in 2021, it reopened in December 2024.
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