From Governor John Kasich's presidential campaign announcement to new beginnings for happy couples and wondrous exhibitions, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is known in Columbus for being the place to hold events, visit with family and learn about unique plants.
In the 1890's Chicago's World Fair inspired Columbus to build the Palm House, a Victorian style glass structure. The now John F. Wolfe Palm House is still drawing in big crowds, shining brightly at more than 100 years old.
The gorgeous centerpiece of Franklin Park holds 43 species of palms from around the world, some of which are considered endangered and threatened in the wild.
A must see when touring the Palm House is the Fiddle-leaf Fig. It's one of the original trees planted there.
In 1989 the original structure expanded, adding four biomes, a gift shop, classrooms, library and cafe.
Also added to the property, a community garden campus, The Wells Barn and an education pavilion, where weekly events attract visitors young and old.
Perhaps the most notable of the events to happen at the Conservatory is Ameriflora, which happened in 1992.
Even president George H.W. Bush helped launch the event, which brought in millions of people to Central Ohio.
In 1994 Franklin Park debuted the now annual Blooms and Butterflies exhibition, making it the first conservatory in the nation to showcase a seasonal butterfly display.
Now the annual celebration of Spring gets the help of 100 thousand tulips blanketing the property.
In 2003 Chihuly at the conservatory increased attendance by 182 percent.
In 2004, the friends of the conservatory group purchased the work, making it a permanent collection with three thousand pieces now on display.
The Conservatory continues to wow visitors by bringing in works by renowned artists like wood sculptor David Rogers' Big Bugs, displaying Origami in the Garden, and lighting the grounds with the work of Bruce Munro, which brought in people from around the world.
That has Harkey optimistic about the conservatory's future, with big plans underway, specifically for a Children's Garden.