Belle Isle Conservatory

Activity Overview

The Belle Isle Conservatory, officially known as the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, is a botanical garden and greenhouse in Detroit, Michigan. It is located on Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park located in the middle of the Detroit River that also contains an aquarium, a zoo, a golf course, a museum, and a beach. The conservatory is named after Anna Scripps Whitcomb, a woman who donated her immense orchid collection to the city.

This beautiful nature attraction consists of a conservatory filled with thousands of fascinating plants from all over the world. It's a must-visit attraction for any family visiting Belle Isle, especially since admission is free!

Things to Do

• Explore the conservatory - it is divided into five sections: the Fernery, the Cactus Room, the Show House, the Palm Room, and the Tropical Room.
• Visit the Show House to see the conservatory's latest seasonal display. The Easter Flower Show features beautiful white lilies, while the Summer Flower Show has bright flowers like daisies and the Christmas Flower Show focuses on red and white poinsettias and a huge Christmas tree!
• Don't miss the orchids - the conservatory has one of the largest municipally-owned collections of orchids in the entire United States!

Belle Isle Conservatory Insider Tips

• If you have any questions about the beautiful flowers and plants, just ask one of the conservatory's many friendly volunteers.
• Spend the rest of the day exploring Belle Isle's other attractions, which include the family-friendly Belle Isle Aquarium and Belle Isle Nature Zoo, both of which are also free! Learn more about Belle Isle here.
• While the conservatory is located on an island, you won't need to get on a ferry or boat to reach it - Belle Isle is accessible by car via the E Grand Blvd bridge.