More than 200 years ago, George Washington had a vision for the capital city of the United States that included a botanic garden financed by Congress that would demonstrate and promote the importance of plants to this young nation.  Today, plants continue to be even more important for our nation.  Our vision at the U.S. Botanic Garden is that we will:

• Work to instill awe and appreciation for the role of plants in supporting earth’s diverse, fragile ecosystem and the quality of human life.

• Create and offer extraordinary programs and exhibits that delight, educate and inspire our visitors to become more active stewards of the plants that support life on earth.

• Be active stewards of our facilities in order to preserve and enhance their architectural, cultural, and technological value.

• Be an organization that treasures its human resources, and works to ensure that both staff and volunteers learn, grow, and take pleasure in their work.