Interpretation & Signage

Druid Hill Park Palm House Complex Signs
Baltimore, Maryland

Completing the community-based master plan Renewing Druid Hill Park, in 1995, Heritage Landscapes led multi-disciplinary teams to plan and implement a series of projects from 1995-2004. This historic 745-acre park was designed by Howard Daniels in 1860 with contributions by the Olmsted Brothers in the 1910s. The Palm House was added in the 1890s when a philanthropist donated a rare plant a collection and three greenhouse ranges behind were a later addition. From 2000-2004 Heritage Landscapes led a team through the design development, construction documents and administration of the Druid Hill Park Palm House and Greenhouses Interior Rehabilitation. This project was a thorough redesign of the interior plant collections of the Palm House and Orchid Room with new Mediterranean, Desert and Tropical Rain Forest theme houses. Two visitor pavilions were designed to complement the Palm House and provide flexible space for group use, special exhibits, seasonal shows and events.

For these unique, historic greenhouses the design intent was to present attractive, educational interior displays of indigenous, decorative, edible plants and herbs from several global climatic regions. An important aspect of the design for the interiors was the addition of attractive, highly informative signs. Heritage Landscapes worked with Mortar & ink to develop signs that addresses each climate region for placement in the Palm House, Orchid Room, Tropical Rain Forest House, Desert House and Mediterranean House. An informative permanent sign system was designed and fabricated with five panels providing an overview of each climatic range accompanied by a highlighted map of the globe showing plant ranges, illustrating sample plants and communicating key facts. These collections and attractive signs serve as a springboard for school group lessons and urban-dweller engagement with horticulture, geography, history, nature and the climates of the world. The renewed Palm House complex has become a magnet for increased public use, enjoyment and education by families, school groups and organizations. The project won a Baltimore Heritage Preservation Award in 2005.

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