Event Information:
The Golden Gate Express - The Conservatory of Flowers popular garden railway exhibit.
Now through April 18, 2010
It's a celebration of the city of San Francisco as a model train, cable car, streetcar and more wend their way through a lush landscape of dwarf plants and zip past mini versions of the city¹s landmark buildings created entirely from recycled materials. New this year also are some only-in-San Francisco special effects including the sounds of the city and the twice-daily arrival of the fog.
New this year is the addition of audio effects that will bring the sounds of the city to life. As the train zips around the track, visitors can listen to the joyous noise of Chinese New Year, the barking of resident sea lions, the cheering crowd at the ball park, the ringing bells of cable cars, the Castro Theater's organ, fog horns, the rumbling of an earthquake and much more. The special soundscape is the work of Andrew Roth of Natural Sounds in San Francisco.
Also new this year will be a children's interactive train set designed to allow young visitors a chance to operate a mini locomotive, a San Francisco history treasure hunt also for children and several short videos that allow visitors to see the process of creating the landmarks, the other Bay Area gardens created by BAGRS and more.
Open Tuesdays-Sundays from 9 am to 4:30 pm and is included with admission to the Conservatory. Admission for San Francisco residents is $5 general; $3 youth 12-17, seniors and students with ID; $1.50 children 5-11; children 4 and under FREE.
Admission for non-residents is $7 general, $5 youth 12-17, seniors and students with ID; $2 children 5-11; children 4 and under FREE. The public should call (415) 831-2090 or visit www.conservatoryofflowers.org
About The Conservatory of Flowers:
It is a spectacular living museum of rare and beautiful tropical plants under glass. From Borneo to Bolivia, the 1,750 species of plants at the Conservatory represent unusual flora from more than 50 countries around the world. Immersive displays in five galleries include the lowland tropics, highland tropics, aquatic plants, potted plants and special exhibits.
Opened in 1879, the wood and glass greenhouse is the oldest existing conservatory in North America and has attracted millions of visitors to Golden Gate Park since it first opened its doors. It is designated as a city, state and national historic landmark and was one of the 100 most endangered sites of the World Monuments Fund.
For a detailed description of the buildings featured in the exhibit, visit www.conservatoryofflowers.org
