Reynolda to Open the Brown Family Conservatory and Reynolda Welcome Center on October 8

Grand Opening for the Public Will Take Place from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

September 23, 2024—Reynolda’s original 1913 Lord & Burnham Greenhouse, the first completed structure on R.J. and Katharine Reynolds’s country estate, has undergone extensive restoration and rehabilitation and will reopen as the Brown Family Conservatory on October 8, 2024. In addition, a new Reynolda Welcome Center, located adjacent to the Conservatory, will open to the public at the same time. An invitation only ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on October 8 at 11 a.m. The Reynolda Welcome Center and Brown Family Conservatory will open to the general public at 1:30 p.m.

The hours of the Welcome Center and Conservatory will mirror the hours of Reynolda House Museum of American Art: Tuesday–Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Designed as the public entrance to four acres of formal gardens, the Conservatory features a central domed roof, making it one of the most iconic architectural elements in the Reynolda landscape. It is one of only a few early 20th-century Lord & Burnham greenhouses, originally built for a private estate, that is still in existence. Through a generous donation from Malcolm and Patricia Brown, the restoration, which began in November 2023, has returned this architectural gem to its original glory—inclusive of modern control systems installed for improved functionality and efficiency.

Visitors can look forward to special seasonal displays and elegant exhibitions of plant species. Themed areas inside the restored Conservatory include an Orangery, a tour of Mediterranean regions around the world, an orchid room and more.

The new Reynolda Welcome Center will introduce visitors to all aspects of the historic estate: Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University and Reynolda Village. The Welcome Center is approximately 680 square feet and is located in what was historically constructed as the Florist’s Workroom. The Welcome Center will include opportunities for visitors to purchase plants and other Reynolda-branded retail items. The Welcome Center has been funded in part by the State of North Carolina, the estate of Everdina B. Nieuwenhuis, and Wake Forest University. Additional support was generated through the annual Reynolda Gardens fundraiser held in November 2023.

“We all have the distinct privilege of celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime milestone for Reynolda,” said Allison Perkins, Reynolda House Executive Director and Wake Forest University Associate Provost for Reynolda House & Reynolda Gardens. “It was no accident that Katharine Reynolds had the greenhouse completed first. She sought to provide beauty, respite and education for this community—the restored Conservatory and Welcome Center are the gifts that keep on giving.”

“The opening of the Reynolda Welcome Center is incredibly exciting. Our visitors will now have a central location within the estate to learn about the rich history of Reynolda and the many ways to experience it—exploring the variety of unique shops, indulging in our dining, cocktail, coffee, and snack options, touring the highly acclaimed Reynolda House Museum of American Art or strolling the gardens and grounds,” said Jenny Bush, Director of Wake Forest Properties.

Katharine Reynolds, wife of R.J. Reynolds and the driving force behind the creation of the Reynolda estate, commissioned the greenhouse complex to propagate vegetables, to keep melons in winter and to present large seasonal displays to the community, including a free annual chrysanthemum show that was promoted in the newspapers. To create the iconic structure, she sought out the premier greenhouse and conservatory design firm Lord & Burnham, which later marketed their design for Reynolda as “Number 539, originally erected for Mrs. R.J. Reynolds at Winston-Salem, N.C.” It was touted as both “practical and decidedly ornamental.” The firm also designed greenhouses at the United States Botanical Garden in Washington, the New York Botanical Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Today, Katharine’s vision continues to fulfill its original purpose of growing plants from around the world for educational display, including orchids, bromeliads, cacti, aroids and palms.

Preservation architect Joseph K. Oppermann, FAIA, APT RP oversaw the rehabilitation of the historic structure with the assistance of premier greenhouse restoration firm Montgomery Smith Inc. Construction management was overseen by Blum Construction, whose extensive experience in overseeing complex and intricate projects—including the recent Reynolda House roof rehabilitation project—was an asset.

“I’m confident that the restored Conservatory will provide a sanctuary for countless residents and visitors,” said Jon Roethling, director of Reynolda Gardens. “It’s one of the very few places where you can escape to an entirely different region of the world without ever leaving city limits. I have no doubt that Katharine Smith Reynolds would be proud of this work.”

PRESS IMAGES: reynolda.org/greenhouse-restoration
Image credit: Reynolda House Museum of American Art

Hours and Admission

Reynolda House Museum of American Art, located at 2250 Reynolda Rd., is open to visitors Tuesday–Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is charged, though several free admission categories apply. Reynolda Gardens is open from dawn to dusk daily, free of charge. Reynolda Village merchants’ hours vary. No ticket is needed to shop at the Reynolda House Museum Store.

About Reynolda

Reynolda is set on 170 acres in Winston-Salem, N.C. and comprises Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Reynolda Gardens and Reynolda Village Shops and Restaurants. The Museum presents a renowned art collection in a historic and incomparable setting: the original 1917 interiors of Katharine and R.J. Reynolds’s 34,000-square-foot home. Its collection is a chronology of American art and featured exhibitions are offered in the Museum’s Babcock Wing Gallery and historic house bedrooms. The Gardens serve as a 134-acre outdoor horticultural oasis open to the public year-round, complete with colorful formal gardens, nature trails and a conservatory. In the Village, the estate’s historic buildings are now home to a vibrant mix of boutiques, restaurants, shops and services. Plan your visit at reynolda.org and use the free mobile app, Reynolda Revealed, to self-tour the estate.

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