 In 1878, the City of Seattle spent $2,000 to acquire approximately on north Capitol Hill from a sawmill engineer.Originally named City Park, it was renamed Volunteer Park in 1901 to honor the volunteers who served in the Spanish–American War.From 1904, this acreage was improved using plans designed by the Olmsted Brothers, with John Charles Olmsted as the principal designer for this project

The conservatory was among the earliest additions to City/Volunteer Park.