About Us

Situated along the banks of our beautiful Rock River, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens brings the tropics to the Midwest.

The facility is the third largest conservatory in Illinois, offering an 11,000-square-foot plant exhibition area complete with water features, seating areas, and sculptures, all in a tropical plant setting.

The beauty continues outdoors with the Eclipse Lagoon, complete with two fountains and a waterfall, pedestrian bridge, patio areas, and walkway connecting the Conservatory to the Sinnissippi Rose Garden.

History

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens is named after the Nicholas family, who in March 2006, announced their donation of $2,150,000 toward the Conservatory project in honor of their parents, William and Ruby Nicholas.

William and Ruby met, married, and raised their family in Rockford. Like many families growing up in Rockford in the 1940s and 1950s, the three Nicholas brothers, Bill, Dan and Ab, spent much of their time outdoors enjoying Sinnissippi Park and the Rock River. The Nicholas brothers envisioned Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens as a gathering place for our community and a catalyst for future river development.

10-Year Celebration

This video was produced to celebrate the first 10 years of the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens along the riverfront in Rockford, Illinois.

In Our History

  • A man wearing glasses and a checkered shirt stands outside at night near a glowing garden with purple and white orbs, with a large glass building illuminated in the background.

    Bruce Munro: Light

    In 2017, Bruce Munro brought his eighth large-scale garden exhibition in the U.S. to Nicholas Conservatory.

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  • Six colorful parrots perched on a wooden branch outside, with a blue wall in the background.

    Lorikeets

    The Lorikeets have visited us a few times over the years. These playful birds are known for their personalities, vibrant coloration, and their ability to mimic words and sounds.

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  • Cluster of Venus flytrap plants with open traps showing reddish interiors, growing among moss and grass.

    Savage Gardens

    In 2021, we explored the captivating world of carnivorous plants. The display featured dozens of species, including Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, trumpet plants, butterworts, sundews, and more.

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  • Colorful stained glass butterfly sculpture inside a glass building with a metal framework ceiling.

    Delicate Forces

    In 2022, NCG hosted Delicate Forces, a botanically-inspired, large-scale art exhibition by Skunk Control, a group of engineers, scientists, and educators from Australia.

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  • Two women in traditional Thai attire holding ornate silver bowls in a lush garden with tropical plants and pink orchids.

    Cultivating Culture

    In 2023, a staff-inspired exhibit celebrating the many cultures of our great community was developed. This was a first of its kind exhibit for NCG.

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  • A lush greenhouse filled with various green plants, an antique wooden dresser with plants and a mug on top, and a wooden chair with a green moss-like cushion surrounded by tropical foliage.

    Growing Home

    Quirky and creative displays of a wide variety of houseplants engulfing everyday household items in the tropical conservatory.

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  • A lifelike dinosaur statue resembling a Tyrannosaurus rex in a lush indoor botanical garden with a glass ceiling.

    Dinosaurs of the Forgotten Forest

    IN 2025, we went back in time to experience the plants and animals of the Cretaceous Period!

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  • A large, rare, tropical flower in a wicker planter, surrounded by green plants and a boy leaning in to look closely at it.

    Corpse Flower

    If you are lucky, or maybe unlucky, you’ve experienced the bloom of the Corpse Flower with us. The bloom smells like rotting meat, and attracts flies, carrion beetles, and sweat bees for pollination in their natural environment.

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