If you’re looking for free things to do in Tacoma, head to the W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. The Victorian-style conservatory is conveniently located in Wright Park. Find out all about it in this W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory review.
For more help planning your trip, check out all of our posts about Tacoma.
When I’m planning a trip to a new city, I always look for a couple things. First, I look for anything that’s free to the public. Taking advantage of a city’s free offerings help to stretch your vacation budget. The second is that I always look for botanical gardens. They’re so different in different parts of the country, so I love spending an afternoon walking around them.
The city of Tacoma, Washington is filled with gardens, but the most iconic is the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. The historic glass conservatory is set in Wright Park, set where you can see it as you drive on G. Street.
The building is gorgeous, as are the plant species inside. It’s free to enter (although donations are accepted).
You won’t spend all day here, but it’s definitely a relaxing place that’s worth checking out when you’re in town.
The W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is part of the AHS Reciprocal Garden Network. Find out more about the program and its perks in our American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admissions Program post.
W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory: Everything You Need To Know
Wright Park Details
The W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is a focal point of Wright Park, a public park in Tacoma, Washington. The park itself is a 27-acre arboretum, which was donated (well, 20 acres of it) to the city by the Tacoma Land Company in 1886, with the company’s president and one of Tacoma’s founders, Charles B. Wright, stating that the land must always be exclusively used as a public park.
The land was carved into a park over the coming years. And gorgeous statues were donated, beginning in 1891 by one of Tacoma’s founders, Col. Clinton P. Ferry, who just happened to be an art connoisseur. You can still see those and other statues around the park. There’s a giant alligator on the left side of the entrance into the conservatory and on the right side is … well, to me it looks like a pregnant alien. Anyway …
With a donation from William W. Seymour, President of the Metropolitan Park Board and future Mayor of Tacoma, the conservatory was opened in 1908.
In its current iteration, the park has a playground and splash pad, walking trails, a picnic area, horseshoe pits, and a fitness station.
The park itself is open from a half hour before dawn to a half hour after dusk daily, but the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is only open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm (closing at 3 pm seasonally).
W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory Review
The conservatory is one of only three public Victorian-style conservatories on the West Coast, categorized by its large, glass bay windows (it has over 3,000 panes of glass), gabled roof (a twelve-sided central dome!), and ornate ironwork. It’s listed on the Tacoma, Washington State, and National historic registers. The building looks like a glass greenhouse from the outside, but when you step inside, you’re greeted to a beautiful site.
There’s a stone path to take you around the center and wings of the conservatory.
The living wall in the east wing is not to be missed. Over 1,200 plants were tucked into mesh pockets in 2021. They’ve grown over the black mesh now, so all you notice are the leaves and flowers. Behind the living wall is the conservatory’s gift shop, selling posters, garden markers, and more.
The north wing houses a vivarium for hanging ferns, golden dart frogs, and their plants.
And, in the rotunda section, there’s a 10-foot tall agave plant, known as a century plant because it was thought to bloom every 100 years (it’s closer to every two to three decades).
There’s also a koi fish pond — although, if I’m remembering correctly, the fish might be transported to a Metro Parks Tacoma greenhouse for winter. Speaking of winter, there’s a boiler to keep the conservatory between 72 and 75 F in winter. During the summer the boiler is off, so the temperature varies depending on what’s going on outside.
Inside, there’s a permanent collection, of course, but the decor can change at any given time.
When I was there just after Halloween, there were information cards all over with fun facts like the tapeworm paradox. “Which came first? The tapeworm plant or the stomach tapeworm?” the placard asked.
For Christmas, tons of potted poinsettia plants are brought in and fake snowflakes and Christmas ornaments hang from the tree’s branches.
So, even if you’ve gone before, it’s definitely worth visiting again. And, when you’re done, walk around Wright Park and see trees that were planted back in the 1800’s.
Take your time, relax, and just enjoy the growth that was planted long before you ever stepped foot in Tacoma.
W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory: Frequently Asked Questions
316 S G St. (in Tacoma’s historic Stadium district)
253-404-3975
Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm (closing at 3 pm seasonally)
The conservatory is free, although a donation is suggested.
There is free on street parking, although it may be limited.
Yes, there is a public restroom in the conservatory.
More Things To Do In Tacoma:
If you’re planning a trip to Tacoma, this botanical garden isn’t going to take you all day. So definitely check out our list of things to do in Tacoma for help planning the rest of your day. It’s filled with lunch options, coffee shops, dinner ideas, other parks to explore, and more.
And, if you like the paranormal, our A Comprehensive Guide To Haunted Places In Tacoma, WA is for you.
More Botanical Gardens:
If you love botanical gardens, you’ll have to check out all of our botanical garden reviews.
A few of our favorites are the San Antonio Botanical Garden in Texas, Bok Tower Gardens in Florida, and Airlie Gardens in North Carolina.
Have you been to the W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory? Give us your review in the comments.