Franklin Park Conservatory
franklin park conservatory botanical garden botanical garden conservatory located columbus ohio open daily admission fee charged today horticultural educational institution showcasing exotic plant collection special exhibition dale chihuly artwork conservatory contains plant specie biome representing global climate zone include himalayan mountain tropical rainforest desert pacific island water garden additional plant collection include bonsai courtyard showhouse seasonal display orchid tropical bonsai collection palm house specie palm conservatory set within franklin park neighborhood surrounded franklin park acre city park name conservatory built added national register historic place added new columbus near east side district franklin county agriculture society purchased acre land two mile km east downtown columbus host first franklin county fair franklin county agricultural society agreed importance piece land increased size acre made official site ohio state fair state fair occupied site moved new location north columbus change lot abandoned may site officially revived ohio state legislature passed resolution declaring open use public park chicago world fair columbian exposition immensely influential social cultural event inspired city columbus create horticulture building modeled exposition glass palace glass structure built grand victorian style erected franklin park opened public franklin park conservatory columbus recreation park department owned operated conservatory unfortunately little known conservatory earliest day fire columbus city hall destroyed record much conservatory history documented newspaper personal written account short period starting animal kept lower room conservatory animal left conservatory became part first columbus zoo aquarium time facility developed reputation horticultural excellence display rare unusual plant conservatory also became popular location family gathering wedding event recognition conservatory historic architectural merit original glass structure today known palm house listed national register historic place columbus hosted ameriflora chose franklin park conservatory host site sixmonth international horticulture exposition renovation historic palm house million expansion began addition conservatory totaled square foot included expanded plant collection classroom library gift shop café administrative office wake ameriflora franklin park conservatory future lay question ohio legislature created franklin park conservatory joint recreation district longterm management conservatory ownership conservatory surrounding acre conferred new member board trustee executive director handful dedicated staff volunteer operating budget institution began regain identity momentum franklin park conservatory debuted bloom butterfly becoming first conservatory nation showcase seasonal butterfly exhibition instant success since annual exhibition feature thousand tropical butterfly flying pacific island water garden attracts thousand visitor year conservatory throughout nation followed suit year brought new milestone franklin park conservatory presented chihuly conservatory blockbuster exhibition increased attendance percent october friend conservatory private nonprofit group support conservatory programming made stunning move purchased nearly entire exhibition dale chihulys artwork valued close million day franklin park conservatory public botanical garden world signature collection chihulys magnificent glass artwork represents piece glass several exhibition merge nature art followed chapungu story stone collection stone sculpture selftaught artist zimbabwe branching featured work patrick daugherty imaginative garden railroad paul busse enchanted express contemporary artist including dennis oppenheim laura stein andy goldsworthy came together exhibition bending nature glass artist debra moore orchid displayed sculpture aurora robson debuted conservatory fall conservatory hosted exhibition internationally recognized british artist bruce munro light franklin park conservatory featured largescale light installation gallery work conservatory undertook first phase comprehensive master plan raised million support new construction project new garden event venue addition palm house dedicated contemporary light artist james turrell commissioned illuminate palm house permanent installation september conservatory converted four acre franklin park fouracre scottsmiraclegro community garden campus first phase master plan closed completion sq ft support greenhouse facility offer wide range educational class school group family individual age extensive plant collection special exhibition provide handson learning opportunity natural world gardening art list botanical garden arboretum united state national register historic place listing columbus ohio official website medium related franklin park conservatory wikimedia common