Lincoln Park Conservatory

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The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a conservatory and botanical garden in Lincoln Park in Chicago. Built in the 1890s, this attraction showcases numerous plant and flower displays, and is known for its excellent educational programs. It’s well worth a brief stop, especially if you’re already visiting Lincoln Park, since admission is free.

History

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a large greenhouse that was created by the Lincoln Park Commission between 1890 and 1895 to replace a smaller building that had been used since the 1870s. Its exotic plant exhibits were incredibly popular with the public from the start, and seeds from its water lilies were even requested by the Egyptian government in the late 1890s. It remains a great place to explore nature without having to leave the city to this day.

Highlights

This beautiful nature attraction features displays of exotic plants from all over the world. Its most important exhibitions are its four display houses, the Palm House, the Orchid House, the Fern Room, and the Show House, which you can wind your way through inside of the building. The Orchid House is especially impressive due to its nearly 25,000 species on display.

Once you’re finished viewing all of the indoor plants, you can head outdoors to explore the Formal Garden and the Grandmother’s Garden. Other outdoor features include the beautiful Bates Fountain, the Schiller Monument, and the Shakespeare Monument.

Practical Information

The easiest way to reach the Lincoln Park Conservatory is on foot or by bike. Several CTA bus routes also stop near the building, while the nearest ‘L’ train station is Fullerton, accessible using Brown, Red, and Purple Line trains. It is about a mile away on foot.

Address: 2391 N. Stockton Dr., Chicago, Illinois 60614

Parking: There is a paid parking lot behind the conservatory which can be reached using the entrance on Stockton Drive, just south of Fullerton Avenue.

Hours: The conservatory is open daily from 9:00 until 17:00, while its outdoor gardens are open daily from 6:00 until 23:00.

Prices: Admission is free, as are tours by volunteer docents, which are available each Friday and Sunday between 13:00 and 16:00 and on Saturdays from 9:00 until 12:00 and 13:00 until 16:00.

Similar Landmarks

Once you’re finished viewing the conservatory’s exquisite plant exhibits, explore the rest of Lincoln Park, which has facilities for nearly every activity you can think of, including beaches on the shore of Lake Michigan (Wikipedia Article)

. Lincoln Park Zoo, also located in the park, also offers free admission. Other nature attractions in Chicago include Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, and Brookfield Zoo.

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Author: ehuttner. Last updated: May 14, 2015

Lincoln Park Conservatory

Museum in Chicago, Illinois