Welcome!
The U.S. Botanic Garden is a museum with a difference - our artifacts are the living treasures of the world. As a living plant museum, our collections, including plants, their leaves, flowers fruits and labels should not be removed or disturbed. We invite you to return again and again, to watch us grow and see our ever-changing exhibits.
Admission to the U.S. Botanic Garden is free. The Conservatory, National Garden and Bartholdi Park are open every day of the year.
Our Visitor Services desk in the Conservatory lobby is staffed each day to assist you:
- Take advantage of our Family Field Journal for an educational and fun experience.
- Ask for a Junior Botanist kid's backpack of exploration, for ages nine and above.
- Obtain a wheelchair for use around the Conservatory. We also have a balloon-tire wheelchair for outdoor use in gravel areas in the National Garden.
- Find out details on upcoming tours and special programs and events at the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Photography and Sketching
Visitors are permitted to take photographs of the public areas at the U.S. Botanic Garden for personal use only, and must be taken with hand-held cameras. Commercial use of such photographs is strictly prohibited.
- Hand-held film cameras, video cameras or lap easels for sketching may be used at any time, as long as they do not affect the public's enjoyment of, or access to, our exhibits.
- The use of tripods, easels or art material containing solvents requires special permission and a permit. To reserve a permit in advance, please contact Laura Anthony. Permits are obtained onsite at the Visitor Information Services desk in the Conservatory.
- Wedding, engagement and family photography is not permitted.
- Please read the full Photography Policy for more details.
Accessibility
The U.S. Botanic Garden is designed to be accessible to all. All pathways, restrooms and water fountains are accessible, as are all seasonal exhibitions. Our overhead jungle canopy is accessible by elevator. Our visitor desk is staffed during open hours to assist those with special needs. To accommodate a variety of visitor needs:
- We provide wheelchairs, which can be reserved in advance, for use inside the Conservatory. We also have a balloon-tire wheelchair for use in gravel areas.
- By advance reservation, we can provide a sign-language interpreter for programs.
- Our cell phone tour makes it possible for visitors with low vision to access our interpretive signs through audio description.
- We offer multi-sensory exhibits, such as "Plant and Culture" in the West Gallery.
Dining
There are no dining facilities at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Many months of the year, we install tables and chairs on the Conservatory Terrace, in the National Garden and in Bartholdi Park, and we invite you to bring lunch and enjoy being outdoors. The closest dining options are located at the National Museum of the American Indian, the Rayburn or Longworth House Office Buildings or the Capitol Visitor Center. In addition, restaurants can be found on Third Street SW, near the Federal Center SW metro station.
Gift Shop
There is no gift shop at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Nearby gift shops are located at the Capitol Visitor Center, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. Please read more about them at Visiting Capitol Hill and to learn more about other places of interest across Capitol Hill.
Private Functions
The U.S. Botanic Garden facilities are not available for rental for weddings or other private functions. Policies governing Congressionally sponsored events are established by the Joint Committee on the Library. For more detailed information, please contact Laura Anthony.