Golden Gate Park's conservatory, North America's oldest existing public conservatory, was erected in 1879. In the mid 1990's, the huge glass house suffered extensive damage in a severe windstorm, needing a 25 million dollar refurbishment. Since reopening in 2003, the conservatory has seen over a half a million visitors.
The conservatory is situated on San Francisco's largest park grounds and displays tropical palms, orchids, bromeliads and a wide variety of rare plants from all over the world. John McLaren, promoted to commissioner in 1887, spent the majority of his life gathering plants and trees for the conservatory.
Golden Gate Park Botanical Garden Conservatory has survived fire, structural decay, a boiler explosion, earthquakes and wind damage and is one of San Francisco's most unique attractions.