Built in 1882, the Linnean House is the oldest continuously operating greenhouse west of the Mississippi. Through the years, the Linnean House has remained a fixture on Garden grounds, undergoing occasional updates to preserve its charm and function. Most recently, the historic greenhouse underwent renovations to restore it to its original purpose as an orangerie.
The Original Linnean House
Built in 1882, the Linnean House is an example of a late-period Victorian orangery. Originally used to house citrus and other cold-sensitive plants during the winter, orangeries became popular with the upper classes in Europe and the United States. As the Age of Exploration (the early 15th to the mid-18th century) brought access to new plants, orangeries evolved to exhibit unusual and exotic specimens, as well as other non-hardy plants.
About the Architect
Architect George I. Barnett designed the Linnean House, as well its two “sister” greenhouses in Tower Grove Park, the Palm House and the Plant House. A native of Nottingham, England, Barnett settled in St. Louis and was a personal friend of Garden founder Henry Shaw. Barnett also designed other buildings still on Garden grounds including Tower Grove House, the Museum Building, Shaw’s Mausoleum, and the Cleveland Gate House.
Naming the Linnean House
The Linnean House is named in honor of Carl Linnaeus, the “father of taxonomy,” a Swedish botanist who laid the foundation for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. Marble busts of Linnaeus and fellow scientists Thomas Nuttall and Asa Gray have adorned the conservatory’s south-facing façade since 1883.
More than a century of Change
In the time since opening, the Linnean House has had several facelifts, some prompted by Garden staff and others by nature itself. Here’s a look at some major moments in its history.
1919
The Linnean House is “radically remodeled” from a warm overwintering house to a cool display house with a rock ledge and a pool.
1927
A hail storm brought extensive damage to all Garden greenhouses. The Garden must replace the lower third of the Linnean House roof as a result.
1932
The Garden displays an Amorphophallus bulb in the Linnean House for the first time. Learn more about the Garden’s extensive Amorphophallus, or corpse flower, collection, here.
1981
The Garden completes rennovations of the Linnean House, funded in part by federal matching monies. Kramer & Harms architects completed the restoration that included restoring ridgecrest and colorful glass as well as replacing asphalt roof tiles with slate.
2005
Funding from the Garden’s Stewards of the Earth campaign supports window repairs in the Linnean House.
2011
A $1.5 million restoration project, with a lead gift from the Mabel Dorn Reeder Foundation, is completed. The restoration includes a new all-glass roof featuring tempered glass and repairs to windows, doors, and brickwork. An in-ground heating system is also added.
Recent upgrades
The most recent renovations were part of the Gateway to the Garden project. The Garden worked with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects (MVLA) on the project, the same designers who helped create the landscapes surrounding the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center. Arbolope Studio serves as the lead local contractor for the project.
Notable upgrades include new trellises added to the north wall that will allow for a display of climbing plants without harming the historic brick. New botanical wall panels create a stunning artistic element, showcasing plants with historical connections to orangeries and examples of species important to the Garden work, displayed in the style of Victorian ironwork. Custom Wardian cases and two display cases showcase unique artifacts that tell the story of botanical collecting in both 1882 and the modern era.
The Living Collection
Plants remain the focal point of the Linnean House. Displays highlight the Garden’s historic collections, rare and important species, and seasonal beauty.
“Many of the plants recently displayed in the Linnean House returned after the renovation,” Andrew Wyatt, the Garden’s Senior Vice President of Horticulture and Living Collections said. “You will also see examples of the species depicted in the botanical art panels. We, of course, have citrus, pineapple, and banana represented which are all linked to the history of orangeries. You’ll also see the botanical source of tea, the camellia.”
Catherine Martin
Senior Public Information Officer
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