National Orchid Day at Rinard Orchid Greenhouse

Housed in our educational and interpretive facility, the Wheeler-Thanhauser Orchid Collection and Species Bank (WOCBS), was originally donated to Ball State University in 1970 by W.O and Goldie Wheeler of Indianapolis. In 1987, over 400 orchids were donated by Al Thanhauser of Connecticut; and 1,000 plants were give by Dr. Charles Bracker of West Lafayette in 2008.

In 2014, the WOCSB was moved from the original greenhouse to the new Dr. Joe & Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, located only 10 feet (!) from the original building. The state-of-the-art greenhouse is a must-see for the WOCSB orchids, as well as many natural history displays, and is complete with separate climate controlled growing and showing spaces.

As a designated Plant Rescue Center (a program with the USDA), WOCSB receives occasional confiscated shipments of orchids that were transported illegally.

The Wheeler-Thanhauser Collection is well known as one of the finest and most diverse collections of its type, and is the largest collegiate orchid species collection in the country! The focus of the collection is conservation and education by maintaining over 240 genera of orchids. This represents over 1,400 species and more than 700 hybrid orchids, and represents just a hint of this huge, very diverse and interesting group of plants.