Fulfilling George Washington?s vision for the nation?s capital to include an educational botanic garden, the U.S. Congress established the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) in 1820. Since its inception, the USBG has been a place to both experience the beauty of nature and to learn about its diversity and importance.

Stretching beyond its identity as a garden, the USBG is an accredited museum whose mission is to demonstrate ?the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological importance of plants to the well-being of humankind.? This crossroads of beauty and relevance provides an excellent learning ground for GW students interested in nature and its role in modern life.