Franklin Park

The land which is Franklin Park today was originally purchased by the Franklin County Agricultural Society for the Franklin County fairgrounds in 1852. The Ohio State Board of Agriculture chose the grounds for the 25th Annual Ohio State Fair in 1874 and it remained the location for the state fair for next 11 years. In 1886, the state fair relocated to its present-day location and the Franklin County Agricultural Society gave the land to the city of Columbus for the purposes of a park. On July 7, 1886, the first park commissioners met to begin making plans for the transformation from fairgrounds to a park; this meeting was also when they decided on the name Franklin Park. One of the first major changes to the park was the addition of the conservatory. The conservatory was designed to function as a palm house, greenhouse and propagating house. After several delays during its construction, the glass Victorian-style conservatory opened to the public in February 1897. The conservatory served as a place to grow the plants for Franklin Park’s landscaping as well as plants for the other city parks and departments.

Ameriflora ’92 was a celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World. Columbus was chosen as the location because it is the largest city in the world named after the explorer. Franklin Park remained closed for over two years while the facilities were renovated and expanded. Over 2 million people attended the six-month exposition by the time it ended in October 1992. Franklin Park reopened to the public in spring of 1993. While the park had some financial difficulties in the following years, it recovered and is thriving. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens continues to offer many exhibits and educational programs today.

William Tecumseh Sherman’s Famous Speech

At a veterans’ reunion in Franklin Park in 1880, General William Tecumseh Sherman gave a brief speech in which he said, “there is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell.” A marker was placed in Franklin Park in 1949 to commemorate this speech.

Courtesy of Ohio History Connection

J.M. Freese ca. 1896

John Marvin Freese (1859-1911) was the architect-designer of the Palm House at Franklin Park, as well as the original Mt. Carmel hospital, the Driving Park buildings and the Masonic Temple. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Columbus in 1884.

Women in Mallway Garden

Three women posed in the mallway garden in front of the conservatory in Franklin Park.

Courtesy of Franklin Park Conservatory

Franklin Park Conservatory

A view of the Franklin Park Conservatory in 1897, the same year it opened to the public. The conservatory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January 1974.

A Stroll in Franklin Park

Taken around 1909, this photograph shows people promenading through Franklin Park. The conservatory is visible in the background.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Ameriflora ’92 Entrance

Ameriflora ’92 opened on April 20, 1992 to commemorate the bicentennial of Christopher Columbus’ journey to America. This photograph shows the entrance and ticket booth.

Courtesy of Franklin Park Conservatory

Ameriflora ‘92 Opening Day

A photograph of Ameriflora ‘92 Opening Ceremonies on April 20, 1992. The performers surround the NavStar, Stephen Canneto’s 20-ton sculpture commissioned for Ameriflora. The sculpture is representative of the sails of Christopher Columbus’ ships the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.