United States Capitol Grounds and Arboretum

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United States of America - District of Columbia - Washington

Institution Code:

BGCI Member: Yes

ArbNet Accredited: Level II

About the United States Capitol Grounds and Arboretum

The Capitol Grounds and Arboretum is responsible for both the day-to-day maintenance of the U.S. Capitol grounds and preservation of a significant historic landscape and accredited arboretum designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

The U.S. Capitol grounds are comprised of approximately 286 acres, including the U.S. Capitol, Senate and House Office Buildings, the Capitol Power Plant and Union Square. This area includes lawns, parks, historic, memorial and commemorative trees; horticultural display beds; supporting decorative features such as statuary; and historic fountains and water features providing a safe and awe-inspiring setting for the U.S. Capitol.

Main Address:
United States Capitol Grounds and Arboretum
U.S. Capitol Building Room SB16
Washington
District of Columbia 20510 United States of America

Telephone: (202) 224-6645
Fax: (202) 224-3428
URL: https://www.aoc.gov/us-capitol-grounds
Primary Email: melissa.westbrook@aoc.gov

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: James Kaufmann
    Curator's Name: Melissa Westbrook
    Plant Records Officer's Name: melissa westbrook
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 45
    Educational Staff Number:
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number: 7

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Other
  • Status
  • Status: Private: No
    Status: State: No
    Status: Educational: Yes
    Status: Municipal: No
    Status: Satellite: No
    Status: Trust: No
  • Date founded: 1793
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: No
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
    Landscaped Area: Size: 116 Hectares
  • Total Area: 116 Hectares
    Latitude: 38.889576
    Longitude: -77.034103
    Annual Rainfall: 1041 mm
    Altitude: 33.00 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: Yes
    Arboretum: Yes
    Arboretum Size: 116
  • Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: No
    Seed Bank: No
    Published Plant Catalogue: Yes
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: No
    Retail Outlet: Shop: No
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: No
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 4

Plant Collections

  • Accession Number: 4
    Cultivation Taxa Num: 283
  • Special Collections:Collections records are managed for woody taxa only.
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: Yes
    Invasive Species Policy: Yes
    ABS Policy: No
    Plant Collection Policy: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: No
    Medicinal Plant Programme: No
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: No
    Reintroduction Programme: No

Research Programmes

  • Biotechnology: No
    Plant Breeding: No
    Conservation - Biology: No
    Conservation - Genetics: No
    Data Management Systems and Information Technology: No
    Ecology: No
    Ecosystem Conservation: No
    Education: No
    Ethnobotany: No
    Exploration: No
    Floristics: No
    Horticulture: No
    Invasive Species Biology and Control: No
    Molecular Genetics: No
    Pollination Biology: No
    Restoration Ecology: No
    Seed/Spore Biology: No
    Systematics and Taxonomy: No
    Sustainability: No
    Pharmacology: No
    Agriculture: No
    Land Restoration: No
    Urban Environments: No

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: No
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: No
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: No
    Courses for School Children: No
    Courses for University/College Students: No
    Courses for General Public: No
    Education Programme: No