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December 03, 2024
An afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony today officially marked the culmination of a multi-million-dollar renovation project in one of the nation’s oldest turn-of-the-20th-century glass houses still in existence.
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, a beloved Detroit landmark at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, will reopen Wednesday after two years of extensive renovations. This significant undertaking marks the completion of the final phase of a comprehensive plan to revitalize the upper 60 feet of the 80-foot-tall conservatory dome.
The upgrades included:
These enhancements not only significantly restored and improved the dome's structure but also considerably enhanced the environment for the unique plant collection. Some examples of this include providing laminated glass to better control light and solar heat gain for Michigan’s latitude, increasing ventilation for the plants and improved visitor and staff safety.
“The conservatory has not received significant capital investment since the 1950s,” Tom Bissett, urban district supervisor for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division, said. “These renovations have now enhanced the structural integrity of the dome, prioritized public safety and improved conditions for the plant collection.”
The conservatory features an indoor display of plants from around the world, outdoor seasonal flora beds and a lily-koi pond. In addition to unique horticultural and aquatic collections, the building itself is a draw for architecture and history buffs as it was designed by Albert Kahn, one of Detroit’s most celebrated architects.
Starting Dec. 4, the conservatory will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Today's culmination event marks a significant investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in state parks across Michigan, including Belle Isle. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, $273 million was earmarked from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan to help address a long list of critical needs in Michigan state parks and trails, and build a new state park in Flint.
A total of $10 million was available for this Belle Isle Park project, including $7.5 million of federal COVID-19 relief funding and a $2.5 million private donation given to the Belle Isle Conservancy for purpose of restoring the conservatory.
The first phase of this comprehensive renovation project, completed in 2019, included the replacement of all 20 original steel trusses. A total of $2.5 million, including a $1 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Grant, was invested.
In all, a $12.5 million investment has been made to the conservatory over the last five years.
For more information on the conservatory, contact Tom Bissett, urban district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, at 313-264-6368 or BissettT@Michigan.gov
Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows. Photo credit: DNR Photo Ambassador, Jake Chamberlin.
Dome: The newly remodeled dome is shown at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, a beloved Detroit landmark at Belle Isle Park in Detroit.
Statue: A statue of a girl is shown among the plants at the newly remodeled Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, a beloved Detroit landmark at Belle Isle Park in Detroit.
