San Diego Botanical Building and Gardens

The San Diego Botanical Building has been an icon since 1915, when it was first created for the Panama Exposition. The structure, as well as much of Balboa Park, was created as a temporary space to commemorate the Panama Exposition. Its wide success, ultimately led to its permanent existence and an important landmark in San Diego.

This beautiful park and highly recognizable building have stood the test of time, but it was recently decided the structural integrity needed to be restored. The botanical building and gardens underwent a revitalization.

This first round of renovations included updating structural elements that needed to be repaired to ensure longevity of the building. The Forever Balboa Park society worked to maintain its historic charm and returning this beautiful and intricate lattice roof to its 1915 breathtaking beauty. Home to over two thousand plant species from around the globe, the botanical garden will soon be expanded to offer even more! Over the next few years, the botanical garden will receive a number of updates to continue to grow and share the beauty of the botanicals of the world.

Upcoming updates for phase two include the addition and expansion of garden spaces. The Forever Balboa Park is focused on expanded the biodiversity of their project while maintaining an ecofriendly approach. Sustainability on this project has been a guiding light. It is the goal of this project to preserve and improve the space for years to come!

I recently visited the Botanical Gardens during a trip to Balboa Park. The space has always been a favorite of mine. I was so worried to see how the building would be transformed but I was so delighted to see the integrity of the garden was retained. The space is now a much lighter and more open atmosphere. I recognized many of the plants from my childhood visits to the garden and that brought me much joy! I look forward to the next step of the renovations and sharing this space with generations to come!

Visit my REEL to take a look at the renovated space.

The Botanical Garden is free to all, and the garden is accessible to those with mobility issues. The Botanical Building is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM. The weekends are a bit busier but be sure to stop by anytime so that you can experience all that the botanical garden has to offer. Consider pairing your visit to the botanical garden with a stop in at the Timken Museum of Art which is also free to all! Visit the Balboa Park website for more information.