Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Tropical Forest Panama Opens Sat., March 1

For Immediate Release: Thurs., Jan. 30
Contact: Joe Reed | Director of Marketing and Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org

Phipps Conservatory’s Tropical Forest Panama Opens Sat., March 1
Embark on a spectacular journey through the lush vegetation and vibrant culture of Panama

Pittsburgh, PA – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is proud to announce announce the opening of Tropical Forest Panama, which invites guests to take an exciting, immersive journey to discover the nature, culture and interconnectedness of the Panamanian forest system. Gorgeous greenery and flowers, engaging new interpretation stations and new live animal features are inspired by our Phipps staff members' journey to Darién National Park and subsequent research. 

Exhibit Features:

• Visit a park ranger station to prepare new discoveries that lie ahead;
• Discover Darién National Park, Panama's largest protected natural area; 
• Explore research methods for trees in the Panamanian forest with activities like knot tying and tree core aging;
• Enter an immersive display of the complex layers of the tropical forest;
• Listen to the sounds of various monkey species; 
• View a live poison dart frog terrarium while learning about their symbiotic relationship with bromeliads;
• Compare your wingspan to regal birds like the harpy eagle, the national bird of Panama;
• Get an up-close look at forest floor decomposers, including live whip scorpions, hissing cockroaches and mycelia;
• And much more!

Researching, planning and curating Tropical Forest Panama was an intensive multi-year process, with Phipps’ staff traveling to the region to observe and explore the culture firsthand. 

To honor the opening of this exhibit, Phipps will be hosting hosting Tropical Forest Panama: The Premiere Party on Fri., March 7. Guests are invited to celebrate the opening of the culturally rich and ecologically diverse exhibit, Tropical Forest Panama. The evening’s festivities will include delicious food and drink, including Panamanian-inspired cuisine and coffee tasting, live music and dance and a chance to explore Pittsburgh’s incredible new tropical paradise.

Tropical Forest Panama will be open from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and until 10 p.m. on Fridays. Timed tickets must be reserved in advance; for more information and to reserve tickets, visit phipps.conservatory.org/Panama. To learn more and purchase tickets for Tropical Forest Panama: The Premiere Party, visit phipps.conservatory.org/PanamaParty.

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About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.

Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.