Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens sits at One Schenley Drive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the city's Oakland area. It is a historic glasshouse conservatory and botanical garden, and it is also known simply as Phipps Conservatory.
The building dates from 1893 and is a National Historic Landmark, so the visit is as much about the architecture of its glasshouses as about the plants inside them. Its rooms hold exotic plants from around the world, arranged so that a walk through the conservatory moves from one climate and landscape to another.
What a visit offers
- Glasshouse galleries of tropical and other exotic plants from many parts of the world
- Outdoor botanical gardens around the building
- Displays that show sustainable gardening practices
The sustainability focus gives the visit a practical side. Visitors who garden at home can see how plants are grown and cared for with an eye to the environment, not only how they look.
Planning the trip
Because the conservatory is a glasshouse, it is a good choice in cold or wet weather, and a pleasant one in any season. Allow time to move slowly through the rooms and the gardens. For opening hours, admission and any current conditions, contact the conservatory directly at +1-412-622-6914 before you set out.
Oakland is home to several of Pittsburgh's universities and cultural institutions, so a visit here can be combined easily with other stops in the neighbourhood.
