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Address:
615 Garfield Street
Oak Park, IL 60304
Phone:
(708) 386-4700
Fax:
(708) 386-3221
Admission: Donation Accepted
Suggested: $1.00 adults, $.50 Children
Visiting Hours:
Monday – 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Tues.-Sun. – 10:00am to 4:00pm
Walk-In Plant Clinic:
Monday – 2:00pm to 4:00pm |
Tours:
By Advance Reservation Only
Docents are on duty during weekend hours to answer
questions (Sat.11-3, Sun. 12-4), except June-August.
New! The Oak Park
Conservatory now offers personal
CD audio tours which
highlight the history of this unique
facility and its
collections.
Conservatory Staff:
Henrietta Yardley, Interim Conservatory Manager
Phone: (708) 725-2451
Mark Omi, Horticulturist/Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: (708) 725-2452
By Car:
Exit the Eisenhower (I-290) at Austin Blvd. Proceed north
to Harrison. Turn left, drive six blocks, turn south on East.
Or Exit I-290 at Harlem Ave. Head south to Garfield. Turn
left, drive eight blocks.
By “EL”:
Exit the Congress “EL’ (blue line) at Oak Park
Avenue, walk east down the platform and exit onto East Avenue.
Turn right. Locate the Conservatory on the corner of Garfield
Street and East Avenue.
Owned and operated by the Park
District of Oak Park, the Conservatory is undeniably a community
and regional asset.
- Carries the distinction as one of the top three historical
sites in Oak Park drawing up to 30,000 visitors annually
- Grows an astounding 20,000 bedding plants from seeds and
cuttings annually that
are planted at 90 public parks and sites throughout the
village
- Attracts many volunteers who help with everything from
propagating plants to
putting on special events
- Offers a full range of educational programs for all age
groups, from summer nature
camps for children to home gardening topics such as garden
design, flower arrang
ing and houseplant care.
- In March 2005, the Oak Park Conservatory was named to
the National Register of Historic Places.
The Conservatory has an active support group called
the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory (FOPCON). This group adds significantly
to the Conservatory
through
its support and services.
- Manages an extensive volunteer docent program
providing guided tours for visitors,
student programs, and weekend plant interpretations
- Sponsors
a broad range of annual events including seasonal flower
show openings,
plant sales and exchanges, a garden walk and field trips
to other sites of botanical
interest
- Provides financial support for education and related
programs
The Park District of Oak Park and FOPCON are working
together to ensure that the Conservatory will continue
to flourish,
enhancing the quality of
life for area residents and visitors.
The Conservatory began
as a community effort in 1914 to provide a place to
house exotic plants that residents collected during
their travels abroad. The present Edwardian-style glass
structure, built in 1929, houses a botanical collection
of more than 3,000 plants, some of which date back
to the Conservatory’s founding.
Over the years the building fell into neglect. In 1970,
when plans were made to raze it, a group of concerned
citizens led a successful drive to preserve, and eventually
enhance, this unique resource. In June of 2000 the
Conservatory Center was opened to provide expanded
space and facilities for educational programming, day-to-day
operations and public events.
Conservatory
The exhibit
rooms are popular locations for wedding photo shoots,
especially during inclement weather. The Conservatory
is also rented, along with the Rubinstein Community
Room, for special occasions and events. Reservations
are required.
Elvira Rubinstein Community Room
Named after the
founder of FOPCON, the Community room is used for
meetings, classes, individual family events and other
social functions.
For information about rental opportunities
please call (708) 386-4700.
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