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District of Columbia 
WASELLN GON (GL) 
UNITED STATES BoTANtc GARDEN 
Established: May 8, 1820. Area: 5 acres. Increased, 1824, to 
12.5 acres. 
After about 20 years the Garden was discontinued and the prop- 
erty, which had been assigned to the Columbian Institute for botanic 
garden purposes, reverted to the Federal Government. Thomas 
Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and Lafayette were mem- 
bers of the Institute and active in promoting the Botanic Garden. 
Re-established: May 1850, by Act of Congress, on the present 
site on the Mall. The name “ Botanic Garden” was not officially 
apphed to the site until August 18, 1856, when the Joint Committee 
on the Library was charged by Congress with its administration. 
Directors: 
Wilham D. Brackenridge (1842-1852) 
William R. Smith (1852-1912). 
Charles Leslie Reynolds (1912-1913) 
George W. Hess (1913-1934) 
David Lynn (architect of Capitol), acting (July, 1934— ) 
Note: According to a preliminary Report on the United States 
Botanic Garden by the House (of Representatives) Committee 
on the Library (73rd Congress, 2nd Session. House Committee 
Print. Congressman Kent E. Keller, Chairman; John G. Brad- 
ley, Clerk, Washington, 1934), the activities of the Garden in 
recent years “have consisted mainly in the purchase, care, and 
distribution of growing plants. . . . Comparatively speaking, 
propagation, experimentation, and adver activities have been lim- 
ited. Another activity of the Garden .. . is the giving away o 
growing plants and cut flowers to members of Congress and 
friends. . . . Its activities as an educational institution ... as a 
scientific es rablistimient ... or as a botanic garden pa the 
definition previously submitted, are wholly negligible.’ 
The same Report states that the cost of this Garden has varied 
from $5000-$6000 a year (during the first years) to a maximum 
of $173,960 in 1930, with a total of $3,511,180 for the entire 
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