Tour five rooms full of fascinating plant life at this grand greenhouse on Belle Isle, the oldest continuously running conservatory in the United States.
Stroll among exotic greenery and spend time relaxing in climate-controlled conditions at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. This botanical garden and greenhouse is beloved by both local residents and visitors to Detroit.
The resplendent glass-domed building was designed by revered Detroit architect Albert Kahn and opened its doors to the public in August 1904. Since then, it has been continuously in operation, pleasing both lovers of plant life and architecture with its diverse range of landscaped displays and its grand facade.
Tour all five sections of the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. The facility has been divided into the Palm House, a haven for tropical palms and trees the Show House, a showcase of flowering flora the Cactus House, home to succulents and prickly plants the subterranean Fernery, a room full of ferns and the Tropical House, where you will find food-bearing plants such as orange, banana, and fig trees. Each room offers a slightly different insight into the world of plants.
Don’t forget about the other on-site attractions, such as the inspiring Levi Barbour Memorial Fountain and the peaceful Lily Pond Garden. The fountain was designed by famed sculptor Marshall Fredericks and was named after Levi Barbour. Barbour left money to the city of Detroit to create a statue in his name, which would serve as an inspiration to others to engage in acts of charity. The Lily Pond Garden was refurbished in 1988 and is now a perfect spot for a peaceful promenade on a summer day.
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is located within Belle Isle Park, which is accessible via a bridge near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and East Grand Boulevard. If you arrive by car, purchase a Recreation Passport to enter Belle Isle Park. This ticket lasts for 1 year or until the car license expires. Alternatively, take public bus number 12 (Conant), which stops inside the park and requires no additional charge aside from the bus fare.
The conservatory is open from Wednesday to Sunday year-round. Admission is free.
