Conservatory of Flowers

The Conservatory of Flowers is a botanical garden and greenhouse in Golden Gate Park with a Victorian structure of glass and wood. The building displays rare tropical plants in five different galleries, each designed to recreate specific natural environments like water habitats and mountain forests.

The building was commissioned in 1876 as a private project and later became the first municipal greenhouse in the United States. Wealthy residents donated the structure to the city, transforming it into a public educational space for everyone to enjoy.

The building shows how people in the 1800s became interested in plants from distant places and wanted to study them closely. Today you can see how orchids, ferns, and other tropical species are grown in different rooms designed to match their natural homes.

Visits are possible on most days, but it is wise to check the exact opening hours before your visit. The building is easy to find and accessible from different parts of the park, with plenty of room to walk through the various plant galleries.

The building houses a collection of carnivorous plants, including species that capture and digest insects for food. These plants demonstrate how certain species have adapted to survive in difficult conditions and captivate visitors curious about their unusual feeding strategies.

Location: San Francisco

Architects: Lord & Burnham

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

Website: https://gggp.org

GPS coordinates: 37.77200,-122.46000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:28