Springtime in Winter
Major Overhaul Shines U.S. Botanic Garden Jewel to New Lustre

Listen to Susan Stamberg's report on the U.S. Botanic Garden renovation.

 View a photo gallery of the U.S. Botanic Garden renovations.

Periwinkle plants in renovated Conservatory Photo: Cara Gerhard, NPR

Dec. 11, 2001 -- It's taken four years and $33 million, but the newly refurbished U.S. Botanic Garden is set to open to the public today with a fresh new face and state-of-the-art technology that can create just about any indoor climate its plants need to thrive.

The distinctive glass dome of the Conservatory has been something of a jewel at the foot of the U.S. Capitol ever since it opened to the public in 1933. But after generations of use, the building needed a complete overhaul.

The exterior limestone facade was kept largely intact -- but the guts of the building, including the huge glass canopy of the Palm House, are completely new or reconstructed.

As NPR's Susan Stamberg discovered when she got a sneak preview of the garden's new look, the location turned out to be sadly useful.

Because the building had been closed for renovation, it was considered anthrax-free. And so became the 24-hour Anthrax Command Center for the CDC and other federal agencies.

Those agencies have moved to other facilities, and this week the garden is finally open for visitors -- and the human side of the equation is also given new emphasis. Exhibits on the east side of the Conservatory focus on plants and their relationship to the environment (including deserts, evolution and plant adaptations). The west side focuses on the relationship between humans and plants, particularly in medicine.

Browse NPR's past coverage of botanic gardens.

Other Resources

• The United States Botanic Garden Web site has background information about the renovation and an overhead view of the new layout.

• Web site with more information about the National Garden.