Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park
(between 5th Ave & Carroll Ave)
Chicago, IL 60624 (773) 638-1766
- Nearest Transit:
Conservatory (Green Lake)
- Good for Kids: Yes
78 Reviews for Garfield Park Conservatory
You can have a WEDDING here in the Conservatory! Make your guests feel like their dining among exotic flora in the open outdoors, but in reality, they are protected by the greenhouse roof. It's like a tent but has to be less expensive, right?
The plants are gorgeous and really a great attraction for wedding guests while they sip on beverages during the cocktail hour. I loved it, though no cabs would come here to pick us up at the end! Luckily the green line is right down the block.
Covering 4.5 acres of the north end of Garfield Park, the conservatory is one of the largest and most remarkable in the country. This humongous garden contains trees, flowers, cacti, and exotic plants from all over the world. Visitors can experience various climates via six interconnected greenhouses and two grand exhibition halls, offering everything from a wet and warm atmosphere to dry desert air. Curious little ones will be amazed by oversized hands-on exhibits and plant life.
Opened to the public in April 1908, the Garfield Park Conservatory always has something new to see. Flower shows change with the season, and several informative displays and activities are available. There are also numerous demonstrations and workshops where attendees can learn about gardening, cooking, and plant identification.
Best of all, admission to the Conservatory is free! There is also free parking available just south of the main entrance. Open every day of the year, it's always a good time to stop and smell the roses.... and the daffodils, and the tulips, and the hyacinths...
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This is a wonderful place to go in the winter! Being inside in the warm air with all of the lush green plants brightens your mood! It's like a free mini vacation!
My new sanctuary within the city. This place is so peaceful and the succulent room is amazing. All of it is amazing!
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I was always scared to visit Garfield Park because of it's unsavory reputation as a gangbanger-haven... and reports of the occasional dead homie floating in the lagoons...
However, I really wanted to see the conservatory, so I went with one of my friends from work. It was beautiful! A quick ride on the green line eL, and I was transported to a literal "urban oasis." The glass house is amazing, and I found it perfectly safe.
I was stupid to buy into the stereotypes about this West side gem. Don't let stupid rumors keep you away... you'll really be missing out if you do.
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GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!!
It's the perfect place for a rainy day. This lovely, huge glass house has a million flowers and plants. I would like to go on a sunny, warm day to take advantage of the outdoor gardens as well. In fact I would like to go lots of times because, on top of it all, it is free!
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This may sound strange, but I find going here is like a spa for my lungs and skin. Well, plants do give off O2 and lots of it. Combined with the humidity required in a greenhouse, I feel my airways and surface layer become moisturized. The benefits also effect my psychological and emotional being. Looking at plants is very soothing and best of all, it certainly is cheaper than Paxil or therapy. I swear I channel an old man at times during my meditative strolls---hands behind my back even, and going at a thoughtful pace. I have made a few rather grand decisions that I needed to make in this manner.
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There isn't much to say that hasn't been said...
This is one of the few attractions in Chicago that is always free (except for some occasional exhibits that night have a requested donation).
It's a great retreat from the bustling city, particularly in the Winter. The current Sugar in the Sun exhibit was OK but nothing too crazy.
Also open *EVERY* day of the year. I went Easter Sunday and while I was glad to find something to do, apparently it's a Chicago tradition to go on Easter. It was very crowded, but not terrible.
Going here is a little bit like stepping into a time capsule. Some of the plants they have here are very old. There are some good pictures up in one of the wings showing the way things looked here a 100 years ago.
The Sunday farmer's market is a good market, particularly if you're looking for some gardening type merchandise. You can buy plants and what nots for your garden here and there are plenty of knowledgeable people around to help.
I don't know why I don't go here more often!
If you're traveling and have never been, it's very easy to get to... just take the Green line west to the stop marked Garfield Conservatory. It's 100 feet away from the stop, you can't miss it.
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I had my wedding at the Garfield Park Conservatory a couple weeks ago and it was such an amazing event. We rented out the entire venue and had the ceremony outside and the reception in the hort hall. Everyone loved the unique setting and had a blast. I couldn't have picked a better place. The staff was great to work with and the place is unbelievable!! I highly recommend checking out the conservatory for an event - it is a truly magnificent place!
We took my mom here for mothers day and it was amazing. I am not sure about the winter but in the spring there is a little market right down the street that had some great things. It was so wonderful inside, like leaving the city for a while. It is nice that there are things in the city that are free and everyone can enjoy.
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Really awesome place!
I went here in August when the Chicago Cultural Center was running the free Loop tours. The "Niki in the Garden" exhibit happened to be running at the Garfield Park Observatory, so my sister and I decided to go to the exhibit after the Loop tour. Everything was free, save for a recommended donation of $5 (totally voluntary)!
I was on crutches following ankle surgery in July, so I was relieved when they had wheelchairs. Unfortunately, the terrain is a little rough to navigate via wheels, so I would proceed with caution if you're disabled. Luckily, I was able to hop out on my crutches during rough patches to avoid getting wheel-barreled onto my face by my crazy sister.
The Niki in the Garden exhibit was really neat, and I hope to return this summer to check out the garden again. Definitely visit this place!
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GPC is beautiful. Hop on the green line and poof, instant serenity. In the winter it can cure what ails you and in the summer you will be blown away buy the outdoor garden and flower shows.
I also had my wedding here (my then boyfriend, now husband) said that it was his happiest place in the city - how can you beat that? So I can recommend it for special events also - we rented the whole place out and had quite a shindig.
hooray for Garfield park conservatory
I was very impressed by the conservatory. It turned 100 years old this year and you can appreciate the old-school design and workmanship that went into the place. We went there when it was raining, and some water was leaking into the tropical zone, which made it feel even more real! It's right off the green line, so it's easy to get to.
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'Santa' gave my daughter Fisher Price's kid tough digital camera for Christmas this year. Yesterday afternoon was so gloomy and cold. and we've all been suffering from cabin fever so I wanted to go someplace humid and where she could use here camera.
I showed her how to center the flowers in her camera and she was snapping away at all the flowers she liked =)
This place is huge and each room had different flowers, trees etc. I loved the Sugar exhibit which they have going on now. They also have a section for kids where they can play on a slide, touch different plants and color. I can't wait to go back with her, she didn't want to leave.
It's free, it's relaxing, you can take the green line directly there. Check it out.
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Free. Beautiful. Great place for a date. Farmers Market is awesome in the summer. Has a couple of rooms that are kid-friendly.
GORGEOUS for weddings and events. Seriously. And fairly affordable for Chicago.
I'm a bit of a dilettante. I don't boast to knowing much about art history or artistic techniques. But when the creative bug bites, I like to draw.
I'm far too critical of my own abilities to draw people; but plants, I can do plants. They stand still and don't judge your artistic abilities. I like the Garfield Park Observatory for just this reason. It's an easy walk from the Green Line. Plus, it's free, usually quiet, and warm inside. I can almost forget that I'm stuck in the middle of a Midwest winter because everything is so green. I don't know anything about plants either. I just like to admire them for aesthetic purposes. I suppose if horticulture gets your blood flowing you'd really have a ball here.
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This is my favourite place to go when I'm post-work angry that no one can do their jobs or mid-winter angry that my toes haven't thawed out since November or no-reason at all angry that I even exist. Judging from this site, it should be really busy... but it rarely is. It's quiet. It smells funny, but in a good way. It's free, though they do ask for your zip code, but you can lie if you want to. They didn't even blink when I told them mine was 66669. It's open until 8 on Thursdays and if you happen to find me under the giant aroid leaf, please put me back where you found me.
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It's free!
I recommend all Chicagoans visit GPC at some point. Although there is more stuff to see in the summer, I prefer going in the winter. It makes me feel better. And the tropical plants remind me of my honeymoon;)
Sugar from the Sun exhibit is well done--check it out!
And while you're there, be sure to take many deep breaths. Lord knows we all breathe too much bus exhaust everyday.
**Also, for those of you involved in community gardens, GPC allows groups to use greenhouses in the back to start seeds.
This is a great little place to get away....reminds me of where I am from HAWAII! The best part about it is the vast variety of flowers they have there and the beautiful landscaping in and outside! Parking too was a plus!
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This is my spot. I could spend days, if not weeks here. My uncle told me that when policing the streets got to be too much, they'd get a "call at the conservatory" and have to go check it out.
I can see why.
I've been going here since I was a kid, and it still never loses it's luster. The fern room is probably my favorite, but the transition from that to the aroid room and then the desert house is almost like taking in a sauna and then jumping in a cold lake in the UP of Michigan.
This place can be mad romantic, and while it's a great spot to take a date, definitely not on the first... It would probably overload your libidos and you'd end up doing it out in the car afterwards (or in the palm house if you're randy like I am).
Easy to get to from the train, and you get to see all the stupid yuppies that are prospecting in Garfield Park. Good luck with that dumb-asses.
If you go on a day where they're having a wedding, it's quite fun to disrupt it, and just walk through like you have no idea that anything's going on.
They usually have awesome sculptures from the likes of Dale Chihuly or Niki de Saint Phalle.
In addition; The 9th annual Chocolate festival is coming up too for all those who are freaks about the stuff.
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This is a magnificent place and should not be missed by residents of and visitors to Chicago (especially when there's an exhibit here --I'm thinking of the magical glass installations by Dale Chihuly and the huge sculptures by Nikki St. Phalle). It is beautiful and serene; big enough to make it worth the trip, and small enough so you can experience the whole place in an afternoon. On a warm week-end day, you might enjoy just watching the families strolling and little kids running around the big "yard" in the back. The greenhouses have a variety of plants and settings. And it's all free!
BEAUTIFUL RELAXING INSPIRING
i took my 8th grade students here for a field trip and I probably enjoyed it more than them. If you haven't already been, it's well worth the trip Tremendous first date place for any nature lover or just a nice place to "get away".
I love the smell inside here. Many days I go to just relax and breathe the wonderful fresh air. The palm house is great, Also sometimes they have people there who teach many different green initatives. Parking is free and easy. I went to see Nicki in the Park this year and was surprized by its beauty. Don't forget the farmers market during the summer!
http://www.garfield-co...
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This is one of my favorite places to bring tourists..especially in the winter when it's freezing out and all you want is a little bit of warmth. This is a haven! The conservatory is beautiful and it's free (a donation is recommended) so there's really no excuse not to visit. Plus with a stop right off the Green line it's a quick ride from the loop (go West towards Oak Park for the Conservatory stop NOT south to Garfield!)
The gift shop is great too with locally made items and plant related goods to bring home.
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I have been here twice. Once to look at the flowers for the summer and the other for a blown glass exhibit, which I cant remember the famous artists name. Both times it was a nice little get away from the downtown parts of Chicago. And my favorite part....they have parking!
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I've been coming hear for a long time......when you would show up and be one of 10 people in the entire complex.
This treasure has been rediscovered and rightly so, it is a landmark building and impressive grounds. The fern and palm houses are magnificent.... You might want to pop the big question to your significant other here in the palm house!!? How romantic that would be!
It's a spacious and well designed and much less crowded and by far more impressive that it's rival in Lincoln Park...A visit here is highly recommended!
The East Garfield Park neighborhood will also see a big revitalization over the next several years. This whole area is on the way up....These stately, well built buildings are gems to behold...Watch this area for a major comeback soon!
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If traveling by train from downtown it's a bit of a trip but well worth the efforts.....I recommend going during the winter months because you will see and smell flowers/plants and feel WARM. It'll definitely take the Chicago winter chill off your skin. I went to the Chihuly show and it was spectacular to see plants and glass art together. Amazing show.
The Garfield Park Conservatory is a completely underrated gem in the city of Chicago.
Yesterday was my second trip to the Conservatory. I brought along a reluctant guest who held the same reservations I did before my first visit: "It's just a bunch of plants, right? Yawn!" By the end of the trip, he called it his favorite place in Chicago.
To say the GPC is beautiful is not enough. Running the risk of sounding like a Grade A New-Ager, the Conservatory is a place of peace, tranquility, and solace - a place to gather your bearings in this crazy town.
So tell a friend, but not too many! The quiet here is part of what makes it so exceptional.
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This is a really pretty conservatory. The staff weren't great as I showed up about 50mins before they were closing and said that I won't have enough time to see the whole park and that I shouldn't bother.
Worth the trip!
Also looks like a great venue for weddings - they were setting up for a reception there and was gorgeous because of the high ceilings and vegetation all around.
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What a marvelous hidden treasure in the Westside neighborhood of Chicago!
The Garfield Park Conservatory was built in 1906 under the direction of Jens Jensen, a landscape architect best known as father of the Prairie School of landscape architecture. Basically, his philosophy was to use natural, native plants to create landscapes, and thereby celebrating the beauty of one's immediate surroundings. How this philosophy rings true 100 years later, in today's world of trying to reduce our carbon footprint in whatever ways we can.
Jensen was a perfectionist (he had the waterfall built several times until it achieved the exact sound that he wanted), and the layout of the conservatory shows this. Everything is harmonious with a pleasing but never forced aesthetic. You can relax and let him lead you through the various rooms and outdoor spaces.
Currently, there is a must-see exhibit of works by the artist Niki de Saint Phalle at the conservatory. It is the perfect marriage of artist and background, as her huge, playful, and multi-textured sculptures celebrate the whimsy of life that is all around us. Her belief was that art should be enjoyed by everyone, and even though she passed away several years ago, I think she would be thrilled about the choice of venue for this show.
The mix of people attending the exhibition was inspiring. It was a melting pot of types, ages, cultures, personalities, and economic backgrounds. Truly, the essence of a city. There is a $5 suggested donation, but it is not required. My suggestion is, give as much as you can afford, and that will help pay the way for someone else who may not have the means. Many of the sculptures are meant to be touched, sat upon, or even entered, which makes it perfect for the whole family. Heck, who doesn't want to climb into a giant scull and sit inside?
If it is not already, a visit to the conservatory should be on your list this year. The Niki de Saint Phalle exhibit will be on through Oct 31, and I highly recommend it. However, if you do miss it, I am sure that the conservatory has something equally as exciting up its sleeve for the future, and just seeing the plants is a great experience in and of itself.
The neighborhood is cited as being "redeveloped", which means it is in the process of gentrifying. How soon that will happen is anyone's guess. Don't let that be a deterrent, though. I think that everyone should get out of their comfort zone once in a while and drive through neighborhoods that look different than their own. The trendiness of the West Loop is just minutes away, if you find that you are craving that afterwards.
Whether you are a native to the Midwest or a transplant, visit this local treasure and enjoy the feeling of getting back to your roots.
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Has anyone had their wedding at the Garfield Park Conservatory? If so, can you share your experience and suggest a caterer, rental place, etc.? Also, did you have your ceremony on site?
I visited the place today and it is beautiful and smells awesome!
This was one of my favorite parts about my visit to Chicago.
The place was pretty warm, which was great compared to the temperature outside, but I was dying a little bit. So close to the L, I'd probably come here like once every couple weeks to write and relax. I'm gonna sound like a nature hippy nut.. but it felt kind of amazing to listen to the waterfalls and chillax with the plants. Especially since it was winter and the ground was covered with snow with little view of nature. Definitely a wonderful break from city life. Not to mention when I came here there was a chocolate festival going on. SAWEETTTT! heh..
During the festival they were selling chocolate mint plants (if you rub the leaves it smells like chocolatey minty goodness!) out of the big side room when you first enter the conservatory. I imagine they either have other special exhibits in that space, but that day along with the plants they had tons of kids' crafts. I think this would be a wonderful venue for special events, family days, or even a day date. :)
I've lived all my live in the city and visited this place for the first time. I was blown away. This is a gem that probably few Chicagoans know about. I can't wait to come back in the winter - its seems like an instant visit to the tropics. Just repeating what other reviewers have said: unique, relaxing, usually not crowded, convenient to get to, and best of all, FREE.
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This place is the promised land; I don't care how shitty your life is before you walk thru these doors, an hour here is the best therapy money can buy. That fern room is off the chain - I'm not ashamed to say I teared up when I saw it. For real. And if you don't have some kind of visceral reaction to all that primitive lush green foliage too, well, then, you're clearly an alien. I don't know what to tell you.
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I love the conservatory-there's no other way to put it. I had an English professor who took us here to do community work and now I try to go as often as I can. It is such a great oasis from the pace of the rest of the city and I love knowing that even on the worst days, this place is guaranteed to cheer me up.
Very cool special exhibits, and they also have some interesting programs for kids and community growers.
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Each season provides something different at the conservatory. Summer is especially gorgeous in the outdoor "Monet's Garden," a wildflower area tucked away on the north end. I like to run my hands along the ferns and feel the little nubby pods on the leaves while I'm walking. The conservatory is SO relaxing, and best of all it's free!
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I love this place! It was so beautiful and peaceful.. Not being from Chicago, i did think it was a little off the beaten path but definitely worth the drive. Nothing only is it free but a place you can visit multiple times and discover something new each time. Unfortunately i wasn't able to stay longer (They close at 5pm) but i'll make sure to go back when I'm back in Chicago! FYI, very close to the ghetto!!!
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Here you can hear crickets in winter. Here you can experience the humidity and lushness of a dense tropical forest, see the cool and serene beauty of the desert, and blasts of colors from the seasonal flower shows. You can also appreciate the prairie style aesthetics of Jens Jensen looking at the open water of the lush fern room. This place is truly an oasis in a city of steel and cement.
Very beautiful,old place. They are in the process of a major renovation to help restore the greenhouses and exhibits. Nice place to walk around on a not so nice day.The only thing that really bothered me were the people who stood in the exhibits to get a closer look at the plants or sculptures or to take pictures.Thanks for crushing some plants so you can send the pictures back to your relatives.A family was having a birthday party for one of their kids there today. Nice idea,facilities for events are available.Not so sure everyone would want to have an event here-some might be too creeped out by the area. It's really not that bad during the day. At night might be another story. Still, a beautiful place.
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My companion and I finally made our way over here after talking about how much we wanted to visit for what seems like a million years. I'm glad we finally got off our asses. The conservatory is significantly larger than the Lincoln Park Conservatory (which I also enjoy) and made for a great free activity. That's right, you heard me, it's free. The parking is also free. What a great place to stop and bask in the warmth on a freeeeezing icy day. It actually got so warm that I started to break a sweat and had to go visit the outdoor gardens... but maybe that's just because I'm a sweat beast. From the balmy fern room full of waterfalls to the desert room, I enjoyed strolling along through the vegetation. I also liked the little paths hidden among the greenery. It was certainly a fun way to spend an afternoon taking photos. We even saw a little squirrel who was more than happy to pose for our pictures. I'd definitely like to come back to see the grounds and outdoor gardens when they're not under a giant pile of ice and snow.
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