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A Brief History of BBG

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Growing from its humble beginnings as an ash dump in the late 1800s, Brooklyn Botanic Garden has come to represent today the very best in urban gardening and horticultural display.

Below is a chronology of important dates and developments in the Garden's history. It is illustrated with photos from our archives taken by Louis Buhle between 1915 and 1968. These charming black-and-white photos capture the evolution of the Garden and the spirit of the times.

1897
New York State legislation reserves 39 acres for a botanic garden.
1910
Garden is founded; Dr. Charles Stuart Gager is first director.
1911
Native Flora Garden laid out.
1914
Children's Garden program begins.
1915
Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is completed by landscape architect Takeo Shiota.
1916
Rock Garden constructed.
Administration Building and Greenhouses dedicated April 1916.

Administration Building and Greenhouses dedicated April 1916.

1917
Auxiliary formed to support the Garden.
1925
Thirty-two dwarfed potted trees are donated, starting the now famous bonsai collection; Shakespeare Garden opens, gift of Henry C. Folger.
1927
Construction of Cranford Rose Garden, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Walter V. Cranford, begins; dedicated the following year.
1933
Magnolias planted, gift of Auxiliary.
During World War I, children collected pennies in a soldier's helmet to benefit a European child.

The Children's Garden: During World War I, children collected pennies in a soldier's helmet to benefit a European child.

1936
Rose Arc Pool completed, gift of Mrs. Walter V. Cranford.
1938
Herb Garden, gift of Auxiliary, dedicated; Elizabethan knot garden established.
1939
Osborne Garden opens, gift of Mrs. Sade Elisabeth Osborne.
1941
'Kwanzan' cherry trees are planted on the Esplanade, gift of Auxiliary.
1945
First BBG gardening handbook is published.
1955
Fragrance Garden, designed by landscape architect Alice R. Ireys, opens.
1956
Plant patent received for 'Red Jade' weeping crabapple developed at BBG.
1974
Volunteer Garden Guide program is established by Auxiliary.
1977
Plant patent received for Magnolia x 'Elizabeth', the first yellow magnolia, developed at BBG; 500-year-old Shogun lantern, gift of Tokyo, New York's sister city, placed in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden.
1988
Steinhardt Conservatory, a $25 million capital project, is completed.
1989
Education Building is completed; Palm House is renovated as special events center.
Throughout the Garden's history, teachers have come to learn in our greenhouses. Theses teachers visited in the 1920s.

Throughout the Garden's history, teachers have come to learn in our greenhouses. These teachers visited in the 1920s.

1992
Rock Garden is restored; Science Center opens at 109 Montgomery Street; Garden presents first Better Earth Award, recognizing environmental commitment.
1993
Lily Pool Terrace is renovated.
1994
New mixed perennial border added to Lily Pool Terrace. Administration Building renovation is completed.
1995
Dedication of the refurbished Fragrance Garden.
1996
Breaking Ground opens—featuring the Amazing Plants! exhibition in the Steinhardt Conservatory's Chase Manhattan Discovery Center, the outdoor Discovery Garden, and Plant Discovery Carts.
Restored Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden reopens

Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden

2000
Restored Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden reopens. Alice Recknagel Ireys Fragrance Garden is dedicated. The Center for Urban Restoration Ecology (CURE) founded with Rutgers University, and the BBG Florilegium is established. Master Site Plan approved by the Board of Trustees.
2002
BBG becomes the U.S. office of Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI).
2003
Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment (BASE) is founded with Prospect Park Alliance as part of the New Century High School Initiative, and administrated by New Visions for Public Schools and the NYC Department of Education.
2004
Osborne Garden and Magnolia Plaza are restored. Garden Apprentice Program is created for students grades 8–12.
2005
New Eastern Parkway entrance is opened, designed by Polshek Partnership Architects, LLP. Design of new Visitor Center and entrance begins. Replanting of Cherry Esplanade completed; 80 scarlet oaks replace the original Norway maples.
2006
Restoration of the Cranford Rose Garden Pavilion and irrigation system completed. Planning for the Centennial Campaign begins.
The C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum after renovations.

The C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum.

2007
Redesign of the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum and Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery. Design of new Visitor Center and entrance completed.