History:

Horticultural Hall was the site of GEN CON® I in 1968. Initially called The Geneva Convention as a play on the famous international laws of warfare, the wargaming convention was held here annually through 1977 and other sites in Lake Geneva. GEN CON® I was run by Gary Gygax, his family, and friends and about 100 people attended. GEN CON® would outgrow this site and even Lake Geneva to become North America's largest tabletop gaming convention. Currently held in Indianapolis, the convention now hosts more than 60,000 gamers each summer! For the 55th anniversary of the convention, on August 24th, 2023, the Gygax Memorial Fund placed the GEN CON® Founder's Stone in the front walkway of Horticultural Hall, commemorating this history.