BIBS Conservatory History

Conservatory History: The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, a landmark on Belle Isle, has been at its present site since 1904. It was designed by Albert Kahn and occupies a thirteen acre parcel of land shared by the formal perennial gardens, rose garden and lily pond garden. It was reconstructed during the years 1952 through 1954 and the wood beams were replaced with aluminum. The Conservatory was dedicated to Mrs. Whitcomb who left her 600 plant orchid collection to the City of Detroit when she died in 1953.

The Conservatory is divided into five distinct sections. It covers more than one acre and features a dome eighty-five feet high, two wings to the North and South, and a show house on the East side. The dome provides 100,600 cubic feet of space for large palms and other tropical trees. The South wing contains tropical plants of economic importance such as bananas,oranges,coffee,sugar cane,orchids, among others. The North wing hosts the extensive collections of ferns, cacti and succlents. The Showhouse was remodeled during 1980 and 1981. It has a continuous display of blooming plants during the six major flower seasons of the year. The Conservatory provides an overall look at the world of horticulture.

The Conservatory also has one of the largest municipally owned orchid collections in the country, made possible by donations from various benefactors including 600 orchids from the collection Anna Scripps Whitcomb an avid orchid breeder and grower.

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