Wright Park Arboretum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wright Park and Seymour Conservatory
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The Seymour Conservatory
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Tacoma, Washington |
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| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | E. O. Schwagerl; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Victorian Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001904 |
| Added to NRHP | October 8, 1976 |
Wright Park is a beautiful green space in Tacoma, Washington. It's a big park, about 27 acres, and is managed by Metro Parks Tacoma. Inside the park, you'll find the W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. This special glass building is like a giant greenhouse filled with amazing plants from all over the world.
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Exploring Wright Park
Wright Park is more than just a park; it's also an arboretum. An arboretum is like a living museum for trees. This park was designed by a talented landscape architect named Edward Otto Schwagerl. He was from Bavaria, a region in Germany.
A Home for Many Trees
The arboretum at Wright Park has over 700 mature trees. These trees belong to about 100 different kinds, both native to the area and from other parts of the world. It's a great place to see many types of trees in one spot.
The W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory
The W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is a stunning building inside Wright Park. It's built in the Victorian style, which means it has a classic, elegant look. The conservatory was finished in 1907.
A Gift to the Community
This special building was named after William W. Seymour. He was a generous person who helped pay for its construction. The conservatory was designed by Isaac J. Knapp. Its unique shape includes wings and a twelve-sided central dome. All together, it has about 3,500 panes of glass!
Art Among the Plants
Inside the conservatory, you'll find six cool sculptures. These were made by a former conservator named Clarence Deming. The sculptures show ideas and traditions from different cultures. They reflect the art of Africa, the Māori people from New Zealand, and the Aztecs from ancient Mexico.
A World of Plants
The conservatory is home to more than 550 different kinds of plants. Its permanent collection includes many interesting species. You can see beautiful orchids, with over 200 different types. There are also palms, ferns, and colorful bromeliads. You'll also find cacti, agapanthus, and rhododendrons.
The conservatory also has special displays that change throughout the year. These rotating exhibits usually feature between 300 to 500 blooming plants at any time. This means there's always something new and colorful to see!
Featured in a Movie
Did you know the Seymour Conservatory has been in a movie? It was featured in several scenes of the 1992 film The Hand that Rocks the Cradle. The movie starred Annabella Sciorra and Rebecca De Mornay. It was directed by Curtis Hanson.
