$35 million Wolfe family gift boosts Park Conservatory, pushing their giving past $160 million
Big things are blooming at Franklin Park Conservatory.
The Conservatory has announced a landmark $35 million gift from the Wolfe family, one of the most significant philanthropic contributions ever made to an arts and cultural institution in Columbus.
The investment will fund a sweeping restoration of the John F. Wolfe Palm House, the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse, and the surrounding Wolfe Terrace. Built in 1895, the Palm House is one of only six surviving Victorian-era glasshouses in the nation —a living monument to the city’s history that will soon be restored to its full grandeur for generations to come.
For the Wolfe family, the gift reflects a legacy of civic investment that has shaped Columbus for nearly a century. Their support is ingrained in the city’s most important cultural, medical, and educational institutions, from the expansion of the Columbus Museum of Art—home to the John F. Wolfe Gallery of Contemporary Art—to the transformation of Nationwide Children’s Hospital into one of the country’s premier pediatric centers.
They have also contributed significantly to The Ohio State University, local schools, and civic life more broadly, with gifts that have fueled everything from neighborhood park revitalization to symphony performances.
In total, the Wolfe family’s philanthropy exceeds $159.8 million, with notable contributions including $50 million to Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center and $15 million to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
The Palm House stands as a fitting emblem of this legacy: a place where beauty and public service converge, long serving as a venue for weddings, concerts, exhibitions, and community gatherings.
The renovation will restore its signature glass panels, introduce nearly 50 rare palms from around the world, upgrade infrastructure for accessibility and efficiency, and preserve its century-old fiddle-leaf fig, a beloved constant for visitors.
Ann Wolfe described the family’s intent as “a continuation of our family’s nearly century-long commitment,” expressing hope that the gift will be a catalyst for the Conservatory’s bold vision to become one of America’s leading public gardens.
Franklin Park Conservatory president and CEO Bruce Harkey called the donation “a great civic endeavor,” underscoring how it will enrich residents, welcome newcomers, and attract visitors from afar.
The project is central to the Conservatory’s North Star Master Plan, an ambitious blueprint unveiled earlier this year that outlines more than 15 transformational projects, ranging from new gardens to expanded education programs.
Renovations on the Palm House are set to begin in January 2026, with a grand reopening planned for summer 2027.
For Columbus, the Wolfe family’s latest gift is more than a restoration of glass and steel—it is a reaffirmation of the belief that culture, nature, and community thrive together.
And for the Wolfe legacy, the renewed Palm House will shine as both a symbol of generosity and a promise for the city’s future.