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Conservatory History The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, a landmark on Belle Isle, has been in operation on the island since its inception in 1904.  Designed by Albert Kahn and modeled after Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, the Conservatory occupies a 13-acre parcel of land fronted by formal perennial gardens and lily pond garden tucked into its north side. A major renovation took place during the early 1950s when its wood frame was replaced with a skeleton of iron and aluminum. Mrs. Anna Scripps Whitcomb bequeathed her 600-plant orchid collection to the City of Detroit and the Conservatory and, in grateful appreciation for the Scripps family generosity, the Conservatory was named for her in 1955. The Conservatory is divided into five distinct sections. The building covers more than one acre and features a dome 85 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 or Tropical House contains tropical plants of economic importance such as bananas, oranges, coffee, sugar cane and orchids. The North wing or Cactus House and Fernery hosts extensive collections of ferns, cacti and succulents. The Show House, remodeled in 1980, features six different displays of blooming plants during the year and is a draw for amateur photographers. 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 the Whitcomb orchid donation. The orchids are displayed in the Tropical House at the Children’s Christian Temperance Fountain but can also be found throughout the facility.

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Belle Isle Botanical Society 8109 East Jefferson, Detroit 48214 email: bibsociety@att.net

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