The CBS Conservatory & Botanical Collection will remain closed to the public until further notice. Our new facility is located at 1534 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108. Once it opens, it will be accessible weekdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The College of Biological Sciences Conservatory & Botanical Collection welcomes and encourages the public and school groups to participate in educational tours of the Plant Collection. Please fill out the Tour Request form at least three weeks in advance of your visit. Have questions? Contact us at cbsgh@umn.edu or call us at 612-625-4788.

• GUIDED TOURS

  Tours are limited to groups of 30 and are scheduled based on presenters' availability. The building is wheelchair accessible; however, there are some uneven and tight areas to negotiate. Please notify tour guide before scheduling if special arrangements are required.

  Student groups

  The tour fee is $2 per student. Make checks payable to the University of Minnesota.

  One adult chaperone should accompany every five students who are between three and 10 years of age and every seven students who are between 10 and 15 years of age.

  Due to the distance of the parking lots, we recommend that you drop students off and pick them up at the greenhouse.

  Adult groups

  The tour fee is $3 per adult.

  Individuals

  The tour fee is $3 per adult and $2 per child for private guided tours.

• SELF-GUIDED TOURS

  Drop-in visitors are welcome at the CBS Conservatory. There is a suggested donation of $3 per adult and $2 per child. Please note that the greenhouse is a working teaching and research facility. As such, some hazards such as wet floors, open ponds, hard bench edges, and spiny or poisonous plants may be present.

• PHOTOGRAPHY

  Visitors are welcome to take photos and video of our collections. If you are interested in using the Conservatory for commercial photography or videography, please visit University Relations for the official policy and rate information. Additionally, feel free to contact the Conservatory directly at cbsgh@umn.edu.

• DIRECTIONS + PARKING

  To get to the CBS Conservatory: 

  The new CBS Conservatory address is 1534 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 and is located on the University of Minnesota's Saint Paul Campus in the Plant Growth Facilities West 369 Building. 

  From Minneapolis via  I 94: use 280 North to the Larpenteur Ave Exit, turn left (East) onto Larpenteur Avenue to Gortner Avenue (stoplights) and turn right (south) to 1534 Gortner Ave, Plant Growth Facilities West 369.    

  From Saint Paul via I 94: use 280 North to the Larpenteur Ave Exit, turn right (East) onto Larpenteur Avenue to Gortner Avenue (stoplights) and turn right (south) to 1534 Gortner Ave, Plant Growth Facilities West 369.      

  From the I 94 Snelling Exit North, turn west on Larpenteur Ave., go to Gortner Ave. (stoplights) and turn left (south).

  For an Online map, please use the Interactive Campus Map and search for Plant Growth Facilities West 369, ("CBS Conservatory"). https://campusmaps.umn.edu/plant-growth-facilities-west

  Parking is generally available in the Gortner Avenue Parking Ramp https://campusmaps.umn.edu/gortner-avenue-parking-ramp and at the State Fair Lot https://www.google.com/maps/dir//44.9839259,-93.1771229/@44.9838968,-93.1772948,17z.

  There are often metered spaces available on Gortner Avenue direcctly across from the Cargill Building.  Campus Parking Maps

• CONSERVATORY USE POLICIES
  • Fill out a Tour Request form at least three weeks in advance of your visit.
  • Please note that the greenhouse is a working teaching and research facility. As such, some hazards such as wet floors, open ponds, hard bench edges, and spiny or poisonous plants may be present.
  • Look at the plants, but do not touch them.
  • Move carefully in the greenhouses.
  • Stay on walkways.
  • Please stress the importance of these facility rules to students and chaperones before the visit.
  • Teachers are responsible for the behavior of their students.