The Garden
The United States Botanic Garden is located on the official grounds of the United States Capitol here in Washington D.C. It is part of the Capitol Grounds. As a result of this, it shares grounds with many important United States landmarks. Among these are the Capitol Building and Visitor Center, The Congressional Office Buildings, The Library of Congress, and The United States Supreme Court.
The US Botanic Garden is located across the street from the southwest corner of the Capitol Building and is under the care of the government’s Legislative Branch. Because of this high level of importance, it is home to nearly 65,000 plants. The plants in this living museum are for collections showcasing a wide variety of flora. This includes economic crops, medicinal plants, carnivorous plants, succulents and cacti, native plants of eastern North America, and more. A highlight is the garden’s incredible collection of orchids.
The collection of plants housed here is used for exhibition, study, and exchange with other institutions.
History
The US Botanic garden was originally an idea of first U.S. President George Washington. He had a vision for the United States capital city to include a botanic garden. This was so we could prominently demonstrate and promote the importance of plants in our nation.
It was initially founded in 1820, and some of the plants on display today are from that original collection. Because of this, it is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America.
Events
The garden has events nearly every day. Regular guided tours run more-than-daily. You can take a home gardening course on the garden grounds. There are children’s themes group classes which include hands-on experience with the plants and a teen night. The visitors center hosts cooking demonstrations. The National Garden is home to a weekly Yoga class. There is even an escape room that takes place after-hours inside the Conservatory. Most events are entirely free. Many require pre-registration, so be sure to check out the full calendar here.
Visiting The Garden
Admission is FREE for this beloved public marvel. It is open every single day including national holidays. The garden has three zones. The hours for each are as follows:
- The Conservatory: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The National Garden: Open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m with extended hours until 7 p.m. April 1-September 15 each annually.
- Bartholdi Park: dawn to dusk daily.
The garden is located at 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20001. Click here to see a map and get directions.
We hope this information was useful to you in planning your trip to our nation’s capitol. If you are looking for lodging in Washington DC consider our Dupont Circle Bed and Breakfast. We are just a 15-minute drive away from the US Botanic Garden and located within walking distance of all of the great restaurants, stores, and culture in Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan.
