Conservatory of Flowers

The Conservatory of Flowers stands before you as a white, Victorian confection of wood and glass that serves as the oldest building in Golden Gate Park. This structure began its life as a collection of crates containing thirty-three tons of glass and prefabricated materials, purchased by the wealthy businessman James Lick in the nineteenth century. Lick intended to build a private conservatory on his estate, but he died before the structure could be erected. In 1877, a group of prominent local philanthropists purchased the unclaimed crates and donated them to the city, stipulating that the building be assembled within eighteen months. It opened in 1879, marking the start of a long history as one of the most visited locations in the park.