Juliana Morello
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is the perfect spot to stop and smell the roses.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Oakland, which was completed in August 1893 and opened the following December, was originally a gift to the City of Pittsburgh from philanthropist Henry W. Phipps in order to “prove a source of instruction as well as pleasure to the people.”
The greenhouse was designed for $100,000 by New York-based manufacturer Lord & Burham. It opened to the public on December 7, 1893, and it housed over 6,000 exotic plants from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, which were transported to Pittsburgh by train and horse-drawn cart.
Today, Phipps includes the Welcome Center, which is LEED-certified, in addition to the Tropical Forest Conservatory and the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, which is one of the greenest buildings on the planet.
The greenery featured at Phipps ranges from plants native to Pittsburgh to cacti, palms, bonsai, ferns, and more. The attractions include seasonal flower shows and exhibits, sustainable architecture, and more. Current exhibits include the Summer Flower Show: Under the Sea, which runs from May 4 until September 8, and the Butterfly Forest, which runs until September 2.
Phipps also offers programs for adults and children alike. Programs for adults include education classes which teach participants skills like pickling vegetables and cooking with herbs from their own gardens. In-person summer camps are available for kids, in addition to events such as Story Time on Wednesdays from 10:30am to 1pm. Registration is required.
Daily entry tickets to the conservatory and gardens are $21.95 for adults and $13.95 for children ages 2-18. Tickets are $19.95 for seniors over 62 and students over 18, while members and children under 2 are free. Phipps also offers free admission for students of several nearby colleges when they present valid student IDs, including Carnegie Mellon University, Carlow University, and the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt students only receive free admission during Fall/Spring semesters.
Various membership opportunities are available for purchase, which include perks such as free admission to Phipps for a year, discounts on education classes and events, a ten percent discount on most items at the gift shop, discounts at certain nurseries and plant-shops in Pittsburgh, invitations to members-only events, and more. Just a few of their membership options include an individual membership for $85, a dual membership (for 2 adults, or 1 adult and 1 child) for $99, and a family/household membership (for 2 adults and up to 4 children under 18 years old) for $129.
The conservatory and botanical gardens are open Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to 5pm, Fridays from 9:30am to 10pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30am to 5pm.
Regardless of whether you’re a new visitor or you’ve been there before, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens provides both entertainment and educational experiences for the whole family.
