180 Reservoir Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
- The Conservatory is open 7 days a week, 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. During the Holiday Show, it is open until 9pm on Fridays and Sundays. Call 585 753-7270 for more information.
- Conservatory Admission: Youth (0-5) Free, Adult (19-61) $3.00, Youth (6-18) / Seniors (62 and up) $2.00.
- Seasonal Passes are available year round. Individual passes are $10, Family passes are $30 and Company/Institutional passes (adult care facilities) are $50.
Book the Lamberton Conservatory for your wedding ceremony, pictures, or reception. Capacity is about 40
The History of the Lamberton Conservatory
- Originally constructed in 1911, the Lamberton Conservatory was named in honor of Alexander B. Lamberton who was the President of the Parks Board from 1902 to 1915. Original funding from the relatives of Lamberton provided for the building costs and would allow for continuous specialized exhibits of diverse plant species. Already a nationally renowned arboretum designed by Frederic Law Olmsted, Highland Park’s horticultural status was certainly heightened by its construction.
- Special events and exhibitions of far off floral wonders continued to delight generations of Rochesterians. The structure would expand over time and its interiors would become known as a tranquil destination or even a tropical respite to Rochester’s chilly winters.
- By 2006, the original building had deteriorated to the point that it was not cost effective to maintain and like most historic structures of that period, time had just gotten the better of it. But in 2007, the Monroe County Parks Department sought the one million dollars it needed to do a complete tear down and historic reconstruction, maintaining every possible detail of the original design.
- This newly restored section of the Conservatory has approximately 1,800 square feet of floor area and boasts nearly 1,000 brand new panes of glass specially formed for structures of this type. The full restoration had become a reality because high temperatures and humidity, required for the tropical displays, had taken quite a toll on the steel as well as the glass that was more than 80% original. The original Conservatory was then dis-assembled right down to its foundation and reconstructed with modern materials, as an exact replica of the historic structure. The existing steel framework was removed and used as a pattern for the new galvanized steel framing system. The original interior cypress gutter system was salvaged, refurbished and reused as were the operable ridge-vent, the exterior cast iron gutter system, and the memorial to Alexander B. Lamberton that is, once again, mounted over the front doors.
- The reconstruction effort was jointly managed by the Monroe County Department of Parks and the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services. With their strict attention to detail, the Conservatory’s reconstruction is a testament to Monroe County’s dedication to our history and our continued commitment to our community’s wonderful quality of life.
Some images used with permission of the Albert R. Stone Negative Collection, Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, NY. To see more Albert R. Stone photographs, go to the RMSC Library and Collections catalog and search by subject.
The Official Centennial Poster by artist Laura Wilder
