For immediate release:
United States Botanic Garden
Contact:
Devin Dotson, Public Affairs and Exhibits Specialist
ddotson@aoc.gov | 202-306-6743
National Park Service
Contact:
Mike Litterst, Public Affairs Officer
mike_litterst@nps.gov | 202-245-4676
September 16, 2016
Season’s Greenings: National Parks and Historic Sites to Open Thanksgiving Day at U.S. Botanic Garden
Washington, DC – This year’s annual U.S. Botanic Garden holiday exhibit, Season’s Greenings: National Parks and Historic Places, will open Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2016 and run through January 2, 2017. Immerse yourself in the sights, scents, and sounds of the season with wreaths, garland, trees, and thousands of blooms from exotic orchids to a showcase of heirloom and newly developed poinsettia varieties.
Throughout the Conservatory, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. In this year’s model train show, the trains will chug around, below, through, and above re-creations of iconic national parks and sites in the National Register of Historic Places. See the Grand Canyon, the Gateway Arch, Old Faithful Inn and Geyser, Mount Vernon, Mount Rushmore, a 7-foot-tall Statue of Liberty, and many more representing more than 50 different national parks and historic sites, all made from plants and other natural materials.
The West Gallery will house one of the largest indoor trees in Washington, D.C., covered with ornaments celebrating national parks, and the Garden Court will welcome back model landmarks from our nation’s capital including favorites like the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and more – all also made from plant materials. More than 30 varieties of poinsettias will showcase old and new colors, forms, and sizes of this seasonal favorite.
The U.S. Botanic Garden is open to the public, free of charge, every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most Tuesdays and Thursdays in December, the Conservatory will be open until 8 p.m. for live seasonal music concerts and after-dark holiday exhibit viewing. Join us as we celebrate the holidays and America’s natural and cultural treasures.
The Conservatory is located at 100 Maryland Ave. SW, on the southwest side of the U.S. Capitol. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation. More information is available at www.USBG.gov/Exhibits
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- Note to Editors: Photos and video clips available in Media photo folder (photos of new national parks and historic sites models, D.C. landmarks, model train show, poinsettias, decorated tree)
- Media Preview: Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Email to RSVP.
About the U.S. Botanic Garden
The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. The Garden informs visitors about the importance and fundamental value and diversity of plants, as well as their aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological significance. With over a million visitors annually, the USBG strives to demonstrate and promote sustainable practices. The U.S. Botanic Garden is a living plant museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. www.USBG.gov
About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 413 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. The National Register of Historic Places, managed by the National Park Service, is a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources. Visit us at www.nps.gov and learn more about the National Register at www.nps.gov/nr