South Bend Conservatory

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

The South Bend Conservatory, more formally known as the Ella Morris and Muessel-Ellison Botanical Conservatories and Potawatomi Greenhouse, is a collection of conservatories and indoor botanical gardens located in Potawatomi Park at 2105 Mishawaka Avenue South Bend, Indiana, in the United States. 41°39′58″N 86°13′01″W / 41.666°N 86.217°W / 41.666; -86.217.

The conservatory was established in the 1920s when the Potawatomi Greenhouses were built to supply flowers. In 1963 and 1967, the Ella Morris and Muessel-Ellison Botanical conservatories were added, providing a tropical area. The “Arizona Desert Dome” was completed in 1973, and now is home to cacti, succulents, century plants, and a large monkey puzzle tree.

The city of South Bend wanted to close the conservatory in late 2006 because it cost too much, but the conservatory and greenhouse were open in 2007 and will remain operational through 2009.