Garfield Park Conservatory

Garfield Park Conservatory at 300 N Central Park Ave in East Garfield Park, on Chicago's West Side in Illinois, is one of the largest botanical conservatories in the United States. Designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen and opened in 1908, the Prairie-style glasshouse is shaped like a giant haystack, a form intended to echo the Midwest's prairie landscape, and it houses plants from many climates under roughly two acres of glass.

Visitors walk through a series of connected rooms. The Palm House has tall tropical palms, and the Fern Room recreates a prehistoric landscape with a lagoon, waterfall and ancient ferns. The Desert House contains cacti and succulents from arid regions, while the Aroid House, Show House and Sugar from the Sun exhibits display flowering plants, economically important crops and seasonal displays. Outdoor gardens and a children's garden extend the visit in warmer months. The conservatory is known for community programming, and general admission is free, though special exhibits, classes and some tours cost extra.

A visit usually takes one to two hours. The conservatory is typically open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with hours listed at garfieldconservatory.org. Because the building stays warm and humid year-round, winter is a popular time, when visitors step from freezing streets into a tropical environment. Weekday mornings are the quietest, while weekends and holiday exhibits draw more families. Photography is a major draw, particularly in the Fern Room with its hanging plants and still water. The CTA Green Line stops at Conservatory-Central Park Drive directly outside, so the trip from the Loop takes roughly 20 minutes without a transfer. Visitors should wear light layers, since the temperature in the glasshouse can be much warmer than outside.