During the late 18th century, George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson shared the dream of a National Botanic Garden and were instrumental in establishing one on the National Mall in 1820. This facility functioned until 1837. In 1842 the Wilkes Expedition brought back to the United States a collection of living plants from around the globe. Temporarily placed in a specially constructed greenhouse, the plants were moved in 1850 to a new structure. The Botanic Garden moved to its present location, on Independence Avenue bordered by 1st and 3rd Streets, in 1933.
The National Botanical Garden also serves as a rescue center for plants confiscated at U.S. borders. The Garden currently maintains about 12,000 accessions comprising more than 60.000 plants for exhibition, study, conservation and exchange with other institutions. Noteworthy collections include carnivorous plants, cacti and succulents, mid-Atlantic native plants, and ferns. Historic specimens include several that date from the original 1842 founding collection.
Sadly, about one in every eight known plant species is threatened or nearing extinction globally and in the United States, the figure rises to about three in every ten plant species.
