“Belle Isle” Just saying the name brings back stories of great times on the Island, whether it was visiting the old zoo, watching the Grand Prix, or flying down the Giant Slide.
On this day in 1904, two of the Island’s most iconic treasures opened their doors: the Belle Isle Aquarium and the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
When the Belle Isle Aquarium opened on August 18, 1904, more than 5,000 visitors lined up to see it. At its debut, it was the oldest public aquarium in the continental United States and the third largest in the world.
Right next door, the Conservatory, originally called the Horticultural Building, also welcomed the public. By the 1920s, it was drawing 1.5 million visitors each year. In 1955, Anna Scripps Whitcomb donated 600 orchids to its collection, and the building was renamed in her honor.
And who designed both landmarks? None other than Albert Kahn, the legendary architect behind many of Detroit’s most famous and enduring structures.
While both buildings were previously closed they’ve since reopened. The Aquarium reopened in 2012 thanks to volunteer-led efforts with the Belle Isle Conservancy leading the restoration and operations.
The Conservatory recently underwent a major $10 Million renovation that saw 1,500 glass panes replaced and it, too has reopened to the public.
Here’s to the memories of yesteryear thanks to these two landmarks, and to new ones created tomorrow.
