Historic Botanical Building in Balboa Park Reopens After Major Restoration

San Diego celebrated the grand re-opening of the Botanical Building in Balboa Park Friday, after a nearly $30 million restoration.

Mayor Gloria and other community leaders unveiled the new building ahead of the city’s annual December Nights holiday event.

“The Botanical Building is one of San Diego’s most iconic landmarks,” Gloria said. “This restoration ensures its legacy as a symbol of our city’s beauty and history for generations to come.”

https://t.co/cDpa5QJCqh pic.twitter.com/swglM6pFDG

— San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (@MayorToddGloria) December 6, 2024

Originally built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the Botanical Building hosts thousands of visitors every year and was designed to showcase the importance of horticulture in California. It features an eclectic variety of rare, tropical and indigenous fauna.

The Botanical Building will be open during December Nights:

• Friday: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday: Noon – 6 p.m.

Regular hours will resume Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, excluding holidays.

The first phase of its $26.4 renovation project involved making structural improvements to the 109-year-old building, replacing the redwood lath, upgrading planter and watering systems and more; $8 million of the funding came from state grants.

The second phase of the Botanical Building project will be undertaken by nonprofit Forever Balboa Park, and will feature improvements to the exterior landscaping and irrigation, as well as reconstruction of the historic pergola.

For more information, visit foreverbalboapark.org/projects/botanical-building.

City News Service contributed to this report.