The United States Botanic Garden in Washington, DC

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) was initially established in 1820, though a tumultuous beginning did not allow it to become a permanent institution until 1850. Nevertheless, it is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America and one of the most visited. This article provides a brief history of the USBG and an overview of its operations and collections. With its centrallocation in a major US metropolitan region and free entry to visitors, the USBG has a strong focus on visitor services, experience and education. Approaching its 200th year, the Garden is well poised to play a leading role in exciting the American public about the importance of plants to humankind.