Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
Visitors to Fort Wayne must put a visit to the Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory at the top of their to-do list. The extensive conservatory and outdoor gardens provide several hours of enjoyment as you walk among the waterfalls and plants.
Brief History
Two friends, inspired by their visits to public gardens around the world, led an effort to open a world-class conservatory and botanical garden in Fort Wayne. Helene Foellinger and local attorney William V. Sowers worked diligently at their task. Their efforts paid off in 1983 with the opening of the Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory.
Helene Foellinger (December 12, 1910 - April 20, 1987)
The daughter of Oscar G. and Esther Anna (Deuter) Foelligner, Helene was native to Fort Wayne. After graduating from Fort Wayne’s South Side High School, she attended the University of Illinois with an A.B. degree in mathematics. After graduating in 1932, she joined her father's newspaper, The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, working as a reporter. Her father began grooming her to serve as president of the newspaper. She was named a News Publishing Company. Her father's death in 1936 vaulted her into the position of president when she was twenty-five. During the first five years of her tenure circulation increased dramatically. She would lead the newspaper for over forty years. She also became involved in several community organizations. She formed the Foellinger Foundation, through which she funneled funds for many community projects, including the Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. Foellinger passed away in 1987 and is interred in Lindenwood Cemetery.
William V. Sowers (July 16, 1916 - September 15, 1993)
The son of Eugene Howard Sowers and Winnie Vance Sowers, was native to Winn parish, Louisiana. After serving as a Navy Reserve commander in World War II and the Korean war, Sowers worked as a lawyer in Indianapolis. He married Cornelia Sturgess Sowers. In 1949, he moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where he joined the Fort Wayne National Bank. Sowers was heavily involved in community affairs and belonged to a number of organizations, including the Fort Wayne Park Foundation, the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society and the Indiana chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He also served as a co-trustee of the Freimann Charitable Trust. Sowers passed away in 1993 and is interred in Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne.
In the Conservatory
Visitors to the 25,000 square feet conservatory will find a showcase, tropical and desert garden. The collection includes over 1,200 plants in more than 500 genera. The desert garden has over seventy-two different types of cacti.
The Outdoor Garden
Outdoors, visitors will find a Terrace, Exploration, Streetside and Beverforden Garden. The gardens include ornamental grasses, rhododendrons, trees, shrubs and perennials. The stunning displays of plants provide a wonderful gardening experience.
Gift and Plant Shop and Empyrean Café
Visitors can purchase plants grown at the conservatory as well as tasteful gifts from the Plant Shop. Lunch on tasty sandwiches, delectable deserts, or just have a light snack at the Empyrean Café.
Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
1100 South Calhoun Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 427-6440
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| Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory |
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Brief History
Two friends, inspired by their visits to public gardens around the world, led an effort to open a world-class conservatory and botanical garden in Fort Wayne. Helene Foellinger and local attorney William V. Sowers worked diligently at their task. Their efforts paid off in 1983 with the opening of the Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory.
Helene Foellinger (December 12, 1910 - April 20, 1987)
The daughter of Oscar G. and Esther Anna (Deuter) Foelligner, Helene was native to Fort Wayne. After graduating from Fort Wayne’s South Side High School, she attended the University of Illinois with an A.B. degree in mathematics. After graduating in 1932, she joined her father's newspaper, The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, working as a reporter. Her father began grooming her to serve as president of the newspaper. She was named a News Publishing Company. Her father's death in 1936 vaulted her into the position of president when she was twenty-five. During the first five years of her tenure circulation increased dramatically. She would lead the newspaper for over forty years. She also became involved in several community organizations. She formed the Foellinger Foundation, through which she funneled funds for many community projects, including the Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. Foellinger passed away in 1987 and is interred in Lindenwood Cemetery.
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| Tropical Garden |
William V. Sowers (July 16, 1916 - September 15, 1993)
The son of Eugene Howard Sowers and Winnie Vance Sowers, was native to Winn parish, Louisiana. After serving as a Navy Reserve commander in World War II and the Korean war, Sowers worked as a lawyer in Indianapolis. He married Cornelia Sturgess Sowers. In 1949, he moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where he joined the Fort Wayne National Bank. Sowers was heavily involved in community affairs and belonged to a number of organizations, including the Fort Wayne Park Foundation, the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society and the Indiana chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He also served as a co-trustee of the Freimann Charitable Trust. Sowers passed away in 1993 and is interred in Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne.
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| Waterfall in the Conservatory |
Visitors to the 25,000 square feet conservatory will find a showcase, tropical and desert garden. The collection includes over 1,200 plants in more than 500 genera. The desert garden has over seventy-two different types of cacti.
 |
| Desert Garden |
The Outdoor Garden
 |
| Exploration Garden |
Outdoors, visitors will find a Terrace, Exploration, Streetside and Beverforden Garden. The gardens include ornamental grasses, rhododendrons, trees, shrubs and perennials. The stunning displays of plants provide a wonderful gardening experience.
 |
| Rhododendrons |
Gift and Plant Shop and Empyrean Café
Visitors can purchase plants grown at the conservatory as well as tasteful gifts from the Plant Shop. Lunch on tasty sandwiches, delectable deserts, or just have a light snack at the Empyrean Café.
Foellinger-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
1100 South Calhoun Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 427-6440
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