The Botanical Building

The Botanical Building is widely acclaimed as the most photo- graphed spot in San Diego. Alfred D. Robinson, a founder and President of the San Diego Floral Society, suggested the construction of a lath house for the 1915 Panama California Exposition to display the flora native to Southern California, as well as tropical and temperate plants from around the world. Carleton Winslow, Frank P. Allen, Jr. and Thomas Hunter designed the structure. One of the largest lath structures in the world, its steel frame is covered by 12 miles of redwood slats. The original building included a glass conservatory extending back from the center of the building and a more elaborate stucco façade across the front. The conservatory was removed and the front of the building simplified, leaving the central triple-arched arcade adjoining Persian-style domes over the entrances. The lagoons in front of the Botanical Building were part of the original design. , The building was completed six months before the Exposition opened at midnight on December 31, 1914. Exposition visitors called it "The Lath Palace.” The lush composition of rare and exotic plants filling the open-air Botanical Building during the Exposition made a lasting impression on visitors and expanded understanding of San Diego's potential as a center for ornamental horticulture. Today, the Botanical Building shelters more than 2,100 permanent plantings, supplemented by special seasonal displays.