This historic botanical garden is a true gem, showcasing beautiful architecture with five themed rooms. What makes it truly special is the amazing orchid collection, generously donated by Anna Scripps Whitcomb herself. It's one of a kind in the world! Another great thing about this hidden gem is that it's free to enter. We even had a chance to chat with the lady at the counter and learned a bit more about the fascinating glass dome. Apparently, it just underwent renovations in 2024, replacing the glass and exterior panes. It's one of the oldest running conservatories in the United States. Honestly, you'd have to visit several times to truly appreciate the beauty and respect the gardens and waterfalls to take it all in. I was blown away by its magnificent collections and huge palms just to name one of the fascinating eye-catching features. More than a reason to return, I'd love to learn more about the history and explore the outside gardens when they're in bloom. read more

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This tropical getaway is one of the oldest operating conservatories in the USA. It features 5 different areas to explore- Palm House,Cactus House,Tropical,Fernery and Orchid House . Set on 13 acres which also includes a Koi Pond and seasonal perennial gardens,this is a must stop . Free admission Wed-Sun 10am-5pm. read more

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This beautiful historic conservatory on Belle Isle opened in 1904 and continues to house five climate controlled gardens. I especially enjoyed the orchid collection. There is a lily pond outside with koi fish. On a blustery day the 80 degree temps inside were a welcome change. Great photo opportunities. read more

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This conservatory is always wonderful and depending on the season you'll see different flowers in bloom. Don't miss it. The temperature is usually around 80° inside. read more

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Well-maintained conservatory with a section on various plants, a section on cacti, a section where people go for photo ops, and a koi pond. Clean and well-staffed. Took us about a half-hour to see it all on the inside. There's a garden outside the building as well - we just looked from afar. Nice way to spend a small amount of time. read more

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This was way better than the aquarium! It was a lot bigger and has a lot of sections (tropical plants, dessert plants, etc). Just prepare yourself for the heat that comes from being in the greenhouse and dessert area (heck, the whole building). We came on an 88 degree day with high humidity so I walked through it pretty quickly but loved all the plants and flowers I saw! Right outside, is a garden area and to the left, you can see Windsor, Canada across the water!! Sooo cool! read more

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The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is free to enter, so Nate and I strolled in on our recent visit to Belle Isle. We were able to park nearby and visit the aquarium next door as well. It was my first time there, so I didn't know it's basically a one-way traffic type of situation, so you kind of have to walk through the whole thing if it's crowded. It was definitely crowded when we were there, so we couldn't really backtrack to exit. It was a good spot to warm up (we visited on a chilly December day), and we enjoyed looking at all the interesting plants. Overall it's a nice conservatory, but I'm used to the big one at Meijer Gardens so it pales a bit in comparison. But you can't beat free entry! read more

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Nice little conservatory packed with lots of plants. I urge visitors to be mindful of others. The paths are narrow, don't take up the entire space and don't take a million pictures causing a pile up behind you. read more

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Warm and beautiful This was great on a cold spring day being able to experience all the plants. The conservatory is divided into different sections to house different types of plants from palms to the dessert you get a great experience of different plant types. My kids even loved exploring. We did the scavenger hunt and the kids enjoying and learning about the different types of plants. Plus a great place to take pictures. read more

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My husband and I decided to stop by for Father's Day with the kids. They do not allow food or strollers inside the building. It is free to get in and they do accept donations. They ask that you do not touch any of the plants. My kids loved running around and we held them too. They were so good and they didn't try to touch any of the plants. We had such a great time and it's so awesome that it is free to enter. read more

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We visit Michigan every year to visit family members. I am kicking myself wondering why I've never been to this place before, but I think it was closed the last few years and were doing remodeling, but now that it's open, it is such a gem and a great place to visit. Of course, Michigan summers are beautiful, so I would say, the best time to visit is during the summer. It is right next door to the aquarium. I was assuming that I had to park in different places, but they are literally walking distance from one another. It is absolutely gorgeous. They have a really fun scavenger hunt for kids to do inside and it's a great place to visit and walk around and take pictures. The wonderful ladies that worked there were so sweet to my children and allowed my son to use a stamp multiple times to make a little bookmark. I just think those type of little things make a huge difference. Especially to kids. One of the best parts? It's free!! But they do accept donations. I would love to come here again, and maybe bring a picnic if they would allow it and enjoy the day here. We were actually going to a wedding this day, so we only got to come in the morning for a little bit, but you could definitely spend the whole day on Belle Isle. read more

I'm disabled. I have a Service Dog. My Service Dog is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. But to three employees working there today, none of those facts seemed to matter. I was denied access at least 6 times as I tired to enter the Conservatory. My mother is starting treatment for cancer this week and my husband and I thought this would be a fun, relaxing place to take her mind off it. However, when I tried to enter the Conservatory I was told my SD would not be allowed entry because "there are too many people inside". Thinking that she meant there was some sort of fire hazard, I said, "oh, we can wait". She then explained that I could go in, but my dog couldn't. I explained that was against the law. She then insisted I show her paperwork (which is also against the ADA). After explaining the law to her and her co-workers several times, it was said that I could carry my dog in the conservatory and I asked, 'you want me to carry my mobility and cardiac service dog?' I overheard someone say something about Biden and DEI, so I had to explain this law has been on the books since 1990 and was updated in 2015. I gave the woman a copy of ADA law, which she refused to keep and only after I said, "just to be clear, you're willing to break federal law over this?" Another employee (not part of the three) stepped in and allowed me access. What a nightmare. Every other establishment on Belle Isle knows and understands ADA. The conservatory is nice, but I guess only able-bodied individuals get to enjoy it without being harassed. read more

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Such a cute space and I loved that it was "free" (donation only) allowing anyone to enjoy the space. It was way bigger inside than it appears, and I especially loved the fountain and the cactus room! read more

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory - Such a gorgeous purple! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This place e is gorgeous! Beautiful architecture FREE admission! There are so many plants and info on each one! You walk through at your own pace which is nicer than the hustle and bustle you get other places in the city. The tropical and cactus rooms are Hella Hot lol so that park would be great on a cold day, however it was already hot out lol absolutely worth the visit! read more

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Renovations are complete. Lots of new glass panes. Lots of light. Not a very large conservatory but it has a wide variety of plants. The Fernery was closed off as it is currently not ADA compliant. We could look at the ferns from the upper level but could not take stairs to the lower level. It was not crowded while we were there but a lot of photographers were in the building. I did not ask why but we assumed it was due to the recent reopening. A big plus for going here is the Belle Isle aquarium right next door. Both are free and both are well worth the visit. The Conservatory is definitely a go to place in my book. read more

This place is definitely apart if the Tour of Detroit list, whenever you visit. It's located on Belle Isle which is a state/city park. Lots of beautiful plants from around the world. Couple of Venus fly traps. I really loved the tropical section. It's open all year. Free admission but I think they take donations as well as. There's also an aquarium next door-- definitely a family experience or date idea. read more

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

It's hot even on a cool fall day so please wear layers. Donation only and so much to see. There is a "flow" so may feel crowded in spots. So many beautiful plants to Look at and knowledgeable staff to give you information. It's a place you can go and go again! Beautiful way to spend an afternoon is walking through this and the grounds looking at the plants and statuary. read more

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Detroit is back and blossoming--and this little slice of Eden is evidence! The conservatory is a lovely way to spend the afternoon, with friends in town or for a romantic date. Lots to learn with a variety of rooms dedicated to different vegetative habitats. Loved the desert / cactus room the most. There are nicely kept walking paths and benches outside the building. The conservatory is free and there is plenty of easy parking as well. All in all, it's a no brainer to go out of your way to visit! It's a glass building, so if you're visiting in the summer you might want to wear light clothing as it gets pretty hot in there! I definitely plan to come back during the winter, I bet it'd be even more beautiful with the snow falling all around. read more

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Right next door to the Belle Isle Aquarium is yet another Detroit treasure named after the benefactress who left her sizable orchid collection to the city back in 1955. The greenhouse itself was built in 1904, the same age as the aquarium, and it remains home to a robust variety of botanical life. Modeled after London's much more expansive Kew Gardens, it's divided into five thematic rooms with the central dome housing tropical plants and palm trees. The grounds cover about thirteen acres of Belle Isle, much of which was flooded when Jamie W. and I visited, but it is all so well tended that it was one of the unexpected highlights of Detroit right up there with the Guardian Building. Also the same as the aquarium, admission is free. Detroit rocks. RELATED - Exploring Detroit? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2Jt7MiE read more

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On the lovely Belle Isle, you can find this beautiful conservatory as well as the aquarium next door! Both places are free and definitely worth visiting :) There are wonderful flowers and plants to see and take pictures of too! This place is pretty warm/hot during the summer but they do have fans to help with ventilation! I thought it was great for families as well and was pretty accessible as well. read more

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When you find a free afternoon, make your way over to Belle Isle and check out the Conservatory. With the elegant bones of a bygone era, you'll appreciate both the beauty of the architecture as well as the variety of vegetation within the Conservatory itself. I was there on a recent hot summer day and appreciated the opportunity to duck indoors and see some exotic greenery. Parking and admission were both free, and after admiring the beautifully-manicured gardens outside, I made my way indoors. From tropical plants (like a papaya tree) to towering cacti, to everything in between, each room highlighted something different, with colors and textures from all over the world. At the end we stopped by a small display of carnivorous plants, which explained both what and how they eat. The volunteer working the desk also told us how the plants are "fed" (the opening to the case stays cracked open, the plants release pheromones, then insects make their way over to their final destination). I loved learning something new, as well as the volunteer's expertise and willingness to share it. On your next free afternoon, swing by the Conservatory to learn and discover something new in your own big backyard! read more

Such a great afternoon activity! Saw so many beautiful plants. We spent about 30 minutes inside and were so intrigued. There is a cactus part, tropical area, and others! They also have a pond with giant Koi! We parked our car and walked across the bridge to the conservatory (about 1.4 mile walk). It was a beautiful, but windy day. We did this to avoid the recreation fee permit and we wanted to stretch our legs after driving all day! I would highly recommend a stop here the next time you're in Detroit! read more

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory - Conservatory outside - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

What a great place! I stumbled across this place after checking out the aquarium next door. The entrance fee if free, although donations are accepted. There are different sections to this place, such as tropical, house plants, cactus house, etc. Great for photos! There is also a garden outside which is nice to take in the architecture of the building. There's lots of parking (parking lot), so you can't go wrong. Everything is free and educational. read more

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Our second stop on the island was the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, also known as the Belle Isle Conservatory. The Conservatory is a greenhouse and botanical garden, and is the oldest, continually operating conservatory in the US. The Conservatory building is divided into 5 sections: the Palm House, the Tropical House, the Cactus House, the Fernery, and the Show House. Their Palm House has some really, really tall and impressive palm trees. The Palm House is essentially the large dome in the middle of the Conservatory, so you can't miss it! The Tropical House and the Cactus House, as predicted, were hot, hot, hot! We did enjoy looking at the tropical plants and the cacti. BF loves cacti so he particularly enjoyed that section. The Conservatory takes about an hour to visit, maybe less if you're less interested in plants or flowers. They do have a lily pond with koi fish, but the koi stay in the Aquarium during the winter so we didn't see them. There are no restroom facilities here, so prepare in advance. As with the Aquarium, admission is free with the Recreation Pass, but they do operate based off donations so drop in a dollar or two if you can! read more

This conservatory on Belle Isle is really pretty! We stopped by today as we were exploring the island, and (with the exception of the heat) I really enjoyed our visit! Not surprisingly, the conservatory is HOT in the summer. Today was a hot day, and it was steamy in the conservatory for sure. But it was also beautiful! Gorgeous tropical flowers, and the glass conservatory was beautiful, too! Definitely worth a visit if you're exploring Belle Isle! read more

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I love Belle Isle! I stopped in here before a Yelp event to kill some time and was able to hang out at the Conservatory for the last hour before they closed. They have 5 different wings, and from the outside, it's a really cool setup. When I walked in, I was impressed with how many flowers, plants and trees they had stuffed in here. Each wing is something a little different. They have a tropical area with huge plants! Leaves the size of my head! I think it was some kind of banana tree, but it was awesome. They also have tons of stuff to see with signs everywhere. I was impressed with how well this place is maintained, along with the range of different plants they have here to look at. They have a whole room just for Ferns?!?! Really. I didn't know that many ferns were around? Interesting. They have benches throughout, so you can park a seat and take some really cool photos. They also have a serious outdoor grounds area with a fountain and all. Very well kept and beautiful to look at. While I was there, a wedding was about to take place, so the place was pretty busy. Overall, I love coming here, and discover something different and new each time. I would love to come back and spend some time in the gardens to walk around. Plus, the aquarium is right next door. read more

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory - Tropical plants - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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The conservatory was a beautiful way to spend a warm Fall afternoon! We strolled through the gardens first (they were setting up for a wedding), then the various wings of the conservatory. My favorite was the dessert area. The shear number of cacti intrigue me. The conservatory is full of beautiful plants and flowers, some that I knew and some I didn't. The Koi pond was beautiful and you can get great views of the fish. They have scavenger hunts for kids to help keep them engaged. If it's cool/cold outside, and you plan to stop by for a visit, dress in layers. You'll want to shed some as you walk through the warmer sections. And, it's free!! read more

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What a wonderful place, another part of history to check out! Some spot are not wheelchair friendly though unfortunately though. However there is still much to see. read more

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This conservatory is beautiful. Very well taken care of, all different types of plant species to see! It's small but worth the trip! Very kind staff as well. Easy parking and completely free. There's always something beautiful to look at, whether it's the koi pond, the gardens outside or the well maintained plants, it's one of my favorite places read more

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A beautiful place to stop and smell the roses, literally. Along with the Aquarium, it's a free experience on Belle Isle, recommended by a friend who is a Detroit native. All sorts of beautiful plants, from desert to tropical and in between. The hibiscuses in particular, were nice to look at. Also a koi pond outside. Yes, you can get bigger conservatories packed with more stuff, but how many are free???? read more

Not the biggest conservatory I've been to but it's a beautiful, free retreat just down the road from the city. They have 5 different "wings" including: the palm house, tropical house, showroom (seasonal displays), cactus house and the fernery. During our last visit (Easter weekend) the showroom was filled with spring flowers like gerber daisies, Easter lilies, hydrangeas and more. So lovely! And with all the plants in there the air is fresh and wonderful. You just breathe better! It's not all that big so you don't need a lot of time there, but you could spend some if you wanted to. It's a great spot for family photos, your own flower pictures, to take in some nature, or just simply relax and breathe. read more

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So pretty and a perfect place to take photos. I can't get over it . Take a walk around and take in the ambiance

A trip to Belle Isle is not complete without a stop to the Conservatory! Let me just throw this out there that this place is !!!! FREE !!!! :-) Everyones favorite word. :) A lot of people assume they will have to pay to get in. Nope! Just walk in, sign the register book, and enjoy! The flowers and plants in here are beautiful and no two trips will ever be alike. As the seasons change the scenery and smells will change. We walked in a few weeks ago and the whole building smelled like lilacs. :) A nice change to a winter day! Leave your coats in the car because you will roast in here....remember it is a green house. :) read more

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

I can't believe this place is FREE. It really is one of the most aesthetic and magical places in Detroit, so please, when you see the donation stand inside of the building, chuck some $$$ in there. I really enjoyed every aspect of our afternoon here. The weather was perfect, we sat under a willow tree before walking through the conservatory for a good half hour and just chilled out. They have little food trucks and ice cream trucks running around so you can snack here in the afternoon. I would come back here if we came back to the Detroit area in the future, for sure. read more

This was such a beautiful botanical garden located in Belle Isle Park. While on vacation in Detroit I took my mom to this conservatory because she loves all types of plant life. She was so amazed at all the plants and how beautiful and well maintained they were. They have a full range of plant life tropical, desert and everything in between. Being in this garden put a huge smile on her face and I was happy she enjoyed it. The outside grounds were well maintained thick green grass and beautiful flowers that everyone seemed to enjoy. This is great place to visit, young and old, male and female no admission price. read more

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I've been here twice in the last year. I hadn't been here since I was a kid (decades ago when Belle Isle was in its prime.) It is an amazing place with a collection that is surprising - hard to believe it is in Detroit. From the tropical plants to palms that reach the top of the domed ceiling. It's refreshing to see that this building survived. It gives you a sense of how mighty this park is/was. It's free - they should have a spot for donations at the door. read more

Went to the Anna Scripps Whitecomb Conservatory towards the end of our Belle Isle adventure and we probably should've gone here first. We were tired and sweaty from the day and going into a steamy conservatory was probably not the best idea. However! What a beautiful building and grounds. Taking wedding pictures or other pictures here would be amazing. We walked through the conservatory and I was surprised of the many rooms of different vegetation. There were fruit trees and other beautiful plants that I honestly haven't seen at other conservatories. I was pretty impressed with the variety. You also go outside through the conservatory to the lily pond area where the koi and turtles hang out. Kids I think would like this area best as staring at plants as a kid isn't always the most fun. Some koi were huge and all were pretty active, even the turtles were swimming about. Despite the heat it was a relaxing stroll of garden area and checking out all of the lovely plant life. A good place to stop and enjoy what nature has to offer. read more

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory - View of the conservatory from the garden area. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Part of the must see list in my book for a whirlwind tour of Detroit! Also a must see for locals. Lots of plants from all over the world, a koi pond, soaring glass domes and sprawling lawn and hedges. Fountain in the middle with the Renaissance center perched far off in the distance. They're open year round, and no matter the time of year, it's hot in here. Therefore a milder day I would recommend over a hot one to visit. Admission is free! Donation run and available to book privately for special events. read more

If you ever visit Detroit this is a MUST SEE! During spring/summer/fall days this conservatory shines inside and out! From a beautiful Koi Pond to the surround manicured lawns and landscape, this place is a Photographers dream for any sort of pictures from Wedding to Yearbook photos. Inside you will first encounter palm tree that is over 70yrs old(come see it within a couple years because it will have to be cut down and a new palm planted. The palm is getting too big for the conservatories Dome). You'll experience jungle plants to desert plants all with a few steps of eachother! A must see! read more

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The Detroit Conservatory is a small conservatory - when compared with Phipps in Pittsburgh or Lewis Ginter in Richmond. It should really be looked upon as an equal sister or brother of the adjacent small aquarium in very nice Belle Isle Park. You will not get tired walking there but you will get hot as the tropical plants demand excess heat. There is no water mist or anything to cool you down. There are no aquariums or sculptures to add to the attractions. My rating is based on joint experience with the aquarium and park as a package or it would 3 stars if i am judging just a single building. You will find beauty if you look for it. read more

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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