PRESS CONTACT: Maryam Nabi, (415)264-0833, mnabi@sfcof.org
SAN FRANCISCO – The Conservatory of Flowers will reopen to visitors beginning Thursday, October 1 with modifications in place to ensure public safety and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The October 1 reopening will occur with direct guidance from public health officials. Guests will be required to wear face coverings and the Conservatory will limit the number of visitors to 25 percent of its normal capacity to ensure social distancing.
The Conservatory will keep its operating hours of 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with the last entry at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are highly encouraged for all visitors to minimize staff-visitor interactions and transaction times. Advance tickets can be reserved at conservatoryofflowers.org.
For opening week, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on October 1 – October 8, members can enjoy the tranquility of the galleries with exclusive member-only hours. Admission to the Conservatory will continue to be free every first Tuesday of the month. The Conservatory will also continue offering free or reduced admission through Museums for All, a program to bring free or reduced admission to San Francisco residents who receive public benefits, including Medi-Cal and CalFresh.
Public gardens such as the Conservatory of Flowers are indispensable to community healing, offering much-needed places for respite and connection with nature. The Conservatory will prioritize the safety of all guests, staff, and volunteers throughout the reopening process and continue to follow guidance from state and San Francisco public health officials. Staff will be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), appropriate signage will be in place, entrances will be marked to ensure social distancing, and additional hand sanitizing stations will be in place.
“We are so excited to welcome visitors back to this living museum on the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Nature is providing a critical respite for people during the health emergency and the Conservatory of Flowers offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience rare and endangered plants.”
In mid-March the Conservatory was closed to comply with the shelter-in-place order and to protect the health of visitors, volunteers, and staff. Like many families and businesses, the closure had an immediate and devastating impact on the Conservatory budget. The Conservatory of Flowers is seeking critical private donations to support reopening efforts.
Donations to support the Conservatory can be made at https://conservatoryofflowers.org/support
“Here at the Conservatory, we are thrilled that you come here as a place to escape the chill of San Francisco, the stress of everyday life, or as a resource on rare and unusual plants. The maintenance and care of thousands of exotic plants and a 141-year-old building are challenging, but the staff and I find it to be extremely rewarding when guests come only to walk out amazed at what they saw. With your support, we will not only keep the Conservatory’s doors open but also continue to educate and inspire all of you,” said Director Matthew Stephens.
For more information on the Conservatory’s reopening and their enhanced safety measures, please visit https://conservatoryofflowers.org/reopening
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About the Conservatory of Flowers
About Conservatory of Flowers
The Conservatory of Flowers is a botanical garden of rare and unusual tropical plants located in Golden Gate Park. The oldest existing wood-and-glass conservatory in North America, the Conservatory of Flowers houses nearly 2,000 species of plants from more than 50 countries around the world. It is one of the few botanical institutions in the nation that highlights cloud forest orchids. Immersive displays in five galleries include plants from the low and highland tropics, aquatic plants, and potted plants, a dedicated gallery to a style made popular in the Victorian era. As one of the top San Francisco cultural institutions, it has attracted millions of visitors since it first opened its doors in 1879. It is designated as a city, state, and national historic landmark. For more information, visit: www.conservatoryofflowers.org
About the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages. Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced.
In 2017, San Francisco became the first and only city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city.
