Fact Sheet

Conservatory of Flowers: A Living Museum

Introduction
San Francisco's beloved Conservatory of Flowers is reopening to the public eight years after a pacific storm with winds of over 100 mph severely damaged this jewel-like Victorian greenhouse. After the storm, spontaneous donations from private citizens kick started what would become a $25 million rehabilitation effort.

When the Conservatory reopens on September 20, 2003, the public will not only find a beautifully restored building, but a transformed institution as well. An extraordinary $4 million interior program of horticultural and botanical displays have been created to inspire visitors young and old to appreciate and conserve this earth's extraordinary biodiversity and tropical flora.

The Campaign to Save the Conservatory was accomplished through a close and cooperative partnership between the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, the Friends of Recreation and Parks, the nonprofit agency that supports San Francisco's parks, open spaces, and recreation programs and the Department of Public Works.

History
Opened in 1879, the wood and glass greenhouse is the oldest existing conservatory in the Western Hemisphere and has attracted millions of visitors to Golden Gate Park since it first opened its doors. It is designated as a city, state and national historic landmark and was one of the 100 most endangered sites of the World Monuments Fund. It is a civil engineering landmark as well, serving as one of the few examples of a Victorian-era prefabricated building.

The original kit of parts for the building belonged to James Lick, a wealthy businessman who made his fortune in real estate, who ordered the greenhouse for his San Jose estate. Unfortunately, Lick died before it was ever erected. Put up for sale by his trustees, the kit was purchased in 1878 by a group of prominent San Franciscans who offered it to the City of San Francisco for use in Golden Gate Park.

Horticultural Displays
Upon reopening in September, the Conservatory will join a distinctive circle of modern American horticultural museums that are on the cutting edge of botanical interpretation and conservation education.

Immersive displays in five galleries include the lowland tropics, highland tropics, aquatic plants, potted plants and special exhibits. The Conservatory is one of only four public institutions in the United States to house a highland tropics exhibit.

Plant Collections
The Conservatory of Flowers is a spectacular living museum of rare and beautiful tropical plants under glass. From Borneo to Bolivia, the 1500 species of plants at the Conservatory represent unusual flora from more than 50 countries around the world. It houses an increasingly important collection of endangered plant species, including ferns, palms and aroids. It is also home to an unparalleled collection of high-altitude orchids -- more than 700 of the 1,000 known species. It is the largest and most comprehensive public collection in the world.

Integrated Pest Management
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has led the nation in reducing pesticide use in municipal parks. In step with this city initiative, the Conservatory maintains a population of geckos that live within the building to reduce pests. Beneficial insects are also released into the Conservatory's galleries to keep harmful species in check.

Education
Public programs at the Conservatory will include lectures and docent-led tours on tropical horticulture and plant conservation as well as classes, workshops and service learning opportunities. These programs will be widely used by local schools, colleges and universities and community groups.

Philanthropy
After the storm in 1995, spontaneous donations from concerned private citizens began a $25 million rehabilitation effort. The Campaign to Save the Conservatory received a major boost in 1998, when First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton visited the building as part of the White House's "Save America's Treasures" project, of which the Conservatory is a flagship effort.

The lead gift for the Campaign came from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. Richard Goldman made the $5 million gift in memory of Rhoda, his wife, who was a great fan of the Conservatory. The Fund's contribution is the single largest private gift of the Campaign.