The Wilder Park Conservatory is a green oasis situated at 225 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126. Just about anyone can enjoy this unique spot that features an array of plants and flowers from around the world! The Wilder Park Conservatory has been providing residents with beautiful scenery for over 100 years now by showcasing their own greenhouse-grown plant life to people all year round.
In 1923, the Wilder Park Conservatory became a symbolic link to Elmhurst’s past. The new conservatory logs 13,000 visits annually and is where many notable life events take place, such as weddings or proms. Seasonal flower shows are held in spring, fall, and during the holiday seasons!
The Wilder Park Conservatory, located in the southwest corner of Wilder Park, is home to a wide variety of plants and has served as an iconic institution in the history of Elmhurst. For 83 years, it’s been providing educational programs for youth while also serving as a visual link to our past that can be verified through its flora.
Wilder Park is the place to be for life-changing moments. Weddings, proms, graduations… It all starts here! The first Elmhurst Park District capital project and a symbol of longstanding commitment from our community to horticultural programs – Wilder has something in store for everyone!
The Wilder Park Conservatory recently underwent a major restoration project, thanks to the generous contribution of $1.84 million from the state as well as community and district support for this beloved historic place that allows improved green technologies and energy efficiencies. New HVAC components were installed in order to reduce energy loss while improving growing space with modern materials such as new glazing systems, which also demonstrates continued commitment by both local citizens and officials alike who are working together so that future generations will be able to create their own memories at this special park!
Elmhurst Park District Conservatory and greenhouses, located in Wilder Park, is a historical tradition that lives on with the help of Seth Wadhams, who was an entrepreneur. He purchased a treeless farm called “Burnham Lot,” which later became known as White Birch Estate. But before he could call it his own home, he had to first plant trees for shade so they would survive in this climate and hired landscapers to care for them while building himself the estate we see today.
Following the death of Seth Wadhams in 1888, a lifelong friend and neighbor, John R. Case’s daughter Aurelia inherited White Birch Estate as she was married to his son Henry King. When they moved into their new home, Mrs. King employed her own landscape architect, who did such an extensive job that it left two acres for family recreation, including large greenhouses (which were added by Mr. Tyrrell) along with fountains and gardens throughout the estate grounds which are still enjoyed today! The Kings lived there until 1901 after Mrs. Mary died when the land then passed on to another dear old friend named Tom Wilder who had been living nearby at “Lancaster Lodge” since 1905 – but he renamed this majestic place “White Birch.”
The City of Elmhurst was stuck with an agreement that they would host a library and were unable to fulfill their end. At the last minute, before Mr. Wilder’s death in 1919, he offered six acres of his land for $45k where there could be built a public library within five years time frame but unfortunately couldn’t happen, so it fell on the Park District Board who bought up the other half which left them short because times had been tough since World War I happened.
After completion of the purchase, the City would cede six acres to Park District and one acre surrounding it for $14,000. The northern six acres became Wilder Park containing an original greenhouse on the southern side.
In 1923, the Elmhurst Park District Board added a conservatory to their original Wadham’s greenhouse. The cost of the conservatory was $6,950, and it came from the American Greenhouse Manufacturing Company. In 1926, Foley Greenhouses built another one for just over $2K that is still in use today! They’ve also continued adding more space like storage areas and new greenhouses as necessary, which are all located right here at Wilder Park, where we can enjoy these beautiful gardens every day.