When I went birding at Belle Isle State Park in Detroit this weekend, I saw scaffolding is now in place over the dome at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
One of my favorite places to escape the winter cold before the Covid pandemic, the conservatory closed in November 2022 to begin renovations, including:
- Inspecting the original steel trusses to identify which need repair or replacement
- Removing lead-based paint in the upper 60 feet of the conservatory dome (also known as the Palm House)
- Reglazing the upper dome
- Updating the conservatory’s ventilation system
First step in the project: build scaffolding in and around the dome.
The project is expected to be completed by May 2024.
While the conservatory glass house will be closed until May 2024, the outside gardens next to the conservatory will open in May 2023.
About Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
Designed by Albert Kahn, the conservatory and aquarium next door were designed as one facility.
The conservatory first opened in 1904.
It was dedicated and renamed the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory in 1953 when Whitcomb died and left her extensive 600-plant orchid collection to the City of Detroit.
I was excited to learn I can follow the progress of the conservatory renovations on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources state parks and trails project dashboard.
