Wilder Park Conservatory facts for kids
The Wilder Park Conservatory is a special kind of building where plants are grown and displayed. It's also a botanical garden, which means it's a place dedicated to showing many different types of plants. You can find it in Wilder Park at 225 Prospect Avenue in Elmhurst, Illinois. The conservatory is part of a 6-acre area that also has other greenhouses (not open to visitors), the beautiful Elizabeth Gardens, and the historic Wilder mansion. The mansion used to be the Elmhurst Public Library. It was restored in 2008, and an addition built in the 1960s was removed during this work.
The main conservatory room is open every day from 8 AM to 4 PM. It's free to enter, but donations are always welcome to help keep it running. Two of the most interesting plants you'll see are a large Pachypodium and a tree Opuntia (a type of cactus). There's also a small pond inside with goldfish swimming around! Close by, you can visit the Lizzadro Museum, the new Elmhurst Public Library, the Elmhurst Art Museum, and Elmhurst University's Schaible Science Center.
Discover Wilder Park Conservatory!
The Wilder Park Conservatory is a wonderful place to explore plants from all over the world. It's designed to be a warm, bright home for plants that might not grow well outdoors in Illinois. Think of it as a giant, sunny living room for plants!
What You'll See Inside
When you step into the conservatory, you'll be surrounded by green. The air is warm and humid, just right for the plants.
- Giant Plants: Look for the tall Pachypodium plant, which has a thick, bottle-shaped trunk. You'll also see a tree Opuntia, a type of cactus that grows like a tree.
- Fish Pond: A small pond adds to the peaceful atmosphere. It's home to colorful goldfish that swim among the plants.
- Changing Displays: The conservatory often has different plants on display depending on the season. This means there's always something new to see!
A Look Back at History
The story of the Wilder Park Conservatory goes back a long time.
- Early Beginnings (1868): It all started in 1868 when Seth Wadhams bought a farm that didn't have many trees. He planted many trees and built a greenhouse for his wife. This original greenhouse is still used today!
- Developing the Gardens: Later owners, like Aurelia King and her daughter-in-law, Louisa Boyd Yeomans King, continued to care for and improve the gardens. They loved plants and helped the area grow.
- Becoming a Public Park: Around 1920, the property became owned by the city. In 1923, the Elmhurst Park District Board decided to add a larger conservatory next to the original greenhouse. Just a few years later, in 1926, another greenhouse was built. This helped create the beautiful park we see today.
