The Oak Park Conservatory began as a community effort to provide a place to house exotic plants that residents collected during their travels abroad. Completed in 1929, it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Free to the public, the Conservatory offers a rich atmosphere of flora and fauna throughout three indoor Conservatory showrooms housing a botanical collection of more than 3,000 plants.

Back in the early 1970s, the Conservatory had fallen into disrepair and was slated for demolition. A group of concerned citizens successfully banded together to raise funds to save it. This informal support group inspired community leaders to form and incorporate the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory in 1986.

The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory offers a wide range of programs focusing on enriching the visitor experience at the Conservatory from lectures to tours and recreational activities there is something for everyone year-round.