17 Historic U.S. Botanical Gardens Founded Over 100 Years Ago

Strolling through an old botanical garden feels a bit like stepping back in time. Flowering beds, towering trees, and wandering paths whisper stories from generations past. These green havens have shaped scientific discovery, conservation, and even civic pride for over a century. From the banks of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia to the sun-drenched hills of California, the oldest public gardens in the United States have been quietly growing beauty—and sharing it with everyone. Here’s your guided tour of the most treasured historic botanical gardens in America, each founded more than 100 years ago and still dazzling today.

Bartram’s Garden (Philadelphia, PA)

Founded: ~1728

Nestled on the Schuylkill River, Bartram’s Garden is America’s oldest surviving botanical garden. Established by John Bartram, this 50-acre oasis showcases native and rare plants, including the famed Franklinia tree. The garden helped shape early American science and plant collecting—if you want to see where American botanical adventure began, this is the spot.

United States Botanic Garden (Washington, DC)

Founded: 1820

The United States Botanic Garden stands on Capitol Hill, serving as the nation’s oldest continuously operating public garden. It’s home to over 44,000 plants ranging from exotic orchids to heritage crops. The lush greenhouses are a living classroom for conservation and botanical research, and the outdoor grounds are perfect for a peaceful walk by the Capitol.

Elgin Botanic Garden (New York, NY)

Founded: 1801

Though no longer standing as an active public garden (its grounds now covered by Rockefeller Center), the Elgin Botanic Garden was a trailblazer. Established by botanist David Hosack, the site was the first public botanical garden in New York State and paved the way for urban horticulture in major American cities.

Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum (Boston, MA)

Founded: 1872

Part of Harvard University, the Arnold Arboretum is both a public park and an iconic research institution. For over a century, it has championed plant science and preservation, featuring an internationally renowned collection of trees and shrubs spread over 281 beautiful acres.

Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis, MO)

Founded: 1859

The Missouri Botanical Garden, also called Shaw’s Garden, is the nation’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark. It’s a global leader in plant science and education, as well as a peaceful haven for anyone in St. Louis. The Victorian-era Linnean House conservatory is a must-see!

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx, NY)

Founded: 1891

The New York Botanical Garden earned historic status with its 250-acre expanse and Victorian glasshouse. Its living collections have supported botanical research and public enjoyment for generations. Seasonal blooms, native forests, and special exhibits make it a perennial favorite.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Brooklyn, NY)

Founded: 1910

Brooklyn Botanic Garden has drawn city-dwellers and visitors into its shade for over a century. Its Cherry Esplanade and Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden are major highlights, but the century-old Children’s Garden is one of the longest-running of its kind in the country.

Fairmount Park Horticulture Center (Philadelphia, PA)

Founded: Site since 1876

Fairmount Park has hosted public gardens since the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. The Horticulture Center includes a historic glasshouse and grounds that link back to Philadelphia’s first world’s fair. Today, visitors can stroll through lush plantings in a setting with deep roots in city history.

Leach Botanical Garden (Portland, OR)

Founded: 1850s homestead, public garden since 1910s

The roots of Leach Botanical Garden trace back to the mid-1800s, though its transformation into a public garden began in the first part of the 20th century. Woodland walks, heritage trees, and pollinator gardens made it a classic Pacific Northwest destination.

Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe, IL)

While its current site opened in 1972, the institution’s founding group dates back over a century. Today, its sweeping lakes, islands, and themed gardens keep it among the top destinations for Midwest travelers. If you are into stunning outdoor escapes in the Midwest, check out more Midwest gardens and arboretums.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Pittsburgh, PA)

Founded: 1893

Phipps Conservatory is a Gilded Age gem with grand glasshouses and unique plant exhibits. Its founder, Henry Phipps, gifted it to the city for public enrichment. Today’s visitors still marvel at its Victorian architecture and living collections.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (Santa Barbara, CA)

Founded: 1926; roots in local horticulture before 1920

Focused on California’s native flora, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden features stone bridges, historic plantings, and sweeping mountain views. It’s the go-to spot to see how West Coast landscapes have always been celebrated.

Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver, CO)

Founded: 1951 (Planting began early 1900s)

The grounds where Denver Botanic Gardens now stand have been shaped by over a century of cultivation, making it a historic site within the city even before its official founding. Its internationally inspired gardens highlight high-altitude and arid plants.

Norfolk Botanical Garden (Norfolk, VA)

Founded: 1938

Started during the Great Depression, this expansive garden was built with the help of WPA workers. Its first major planting included hundreds of azaleas and camellias that are still blooming for visitors each spring.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond, VA)

Founded: parts since 1884, public garden established 1980s

While the public garden officially opened later, the property’s origins date to the late 19th century. Victorian gardens, a domed conservatory, and peaceful water features make this a must-see for Richmond explorers.

ome to North American plant science for well over a century, playing a key role in the spread of botanical knowledge.

Bellevue Botanical Garden (Bellevue, WA)

Founded: roots as family farm since 1885; public garden 1992

Growing from a long-standing homestead, part of this space has seen over a hundred years of gardening before becoming a public treasure, with heritage gardens and woodland trails offering green space to the Pacific Northwest.

Lyndale Park Rose Garden (Minneapolis, MN)

Founded: 1908

On the shores of Lake Harriet, the Lyndale Park Rose Garden is the second-oldest public rose garden in the United States. It’s the star of Minneapolis’s park system every summer, with thousands of roses bursting with color—a true icon for locals and visitors alike.

Conclusion

If your travels ever bring you near any of these historic botanical gardens, take the time to wander their paths. The beauty in these living museums didn’t just happen overnight. It took visionaries, planters, and caretakers working across centuries to nurture what we now enjoy. Whether you explore classic East Coast estates, Midwest gems, or West Coast native sanctuaries, you’ll find a living thread tying today’s gardens to the roots of American history. Happy strolling—and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses (or azaleas or lilacs)! Want more inspiration for classic green escapes? Explore Midwest gardens and arboretums for even more road trip ideas!