44 U.S. GOVERNMENT MANUAL

Projects carried out by the Architect of the Brumidi corridors in the Capitol, a the Capitol in recent years include substantial barrier-removal program renovation and restoration of the Statue throughout the Capitol complex, and the of Freedom, the Terrace, Courtyards, east monumental stairs on the Capitol’s Rotunda, and other areas in the Capitol, House wing. and the Library of Congress; The Architect of the Capitol also procurement and installation of serves as a member of numerous television and broadcasting facilities for governing or advisory bodies, including: the House and Senate chambers and Capitol Police Board, Capitol Guide hearing rooms; improvements to building Board, House of Representatives Page utility, energy-management, and security Board, District of Columbia Zoning systems; installation of a Senate subway Commission, Advisory Council on system; development and Historic Preservation, National Capital implementation of the Legislative Branch Memorial Commission, Art Advisory Telecommunications Network; plans for Committee to the Washington the complete renovation of the U.S. Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and Botanic Garden Conservatory; the design the National Institute for Conservation of of a National Garden adjacent to the Cultural Property. The Architect is an ex Conservatory; and plans for a new officio member of the U.S. Capitol Capitol Visitor Center. The Architect also Preservation Commission and the oversaw the design and construction of Commission on the Bicentennial of the the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary U.S. Capitol. In addition, he serves as Building for the U.S. courts. Ongoing the Coordinator of Civil Defense for the conservation/renovation projects include Capitol complex.

For further information, contact the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, DC 20515. Phone, 202–228–1793.

UNITED STATES BOTANIC GARDEN Office of Executive Director, 245 First Street SW., Washington, DC 20024 Phone, 202–225–8333 Conservatory, Maryland Avenue, First to Second Streets SW., Washington, DC 20024 Phone, 202–225–6646 Production Facility, 4700 Shepherd Parkway SW., Washington, DC 20032 Phone, 202–563–2220

Director (Architect of the Capitol) WILLIAM L. ENSIGN, Acting Executive Director JEFFREY P. COOPER-SMITH

The United States Botanic Garden is an educational and scientific display garden. It informs visitors about the importance and irreplaceable value of plants to the well- being of humankind and to the fragile ecosystems that support all life.

The Botanic Garden’s indoor and outdoor courtyard gardens. Collections outdoor displays convey information on in this facility attract many visitors the aesthetic, cultural, economic, annually, including botanists, therapeutic, and ecological value of horticulturists, ecologists, students, and plants worldwide. garden club members. The permanent The Conservatory, one of the largest collections include orchids, epiphytes, structures of its kind in this country, features both indoor exhibits and two bromeliads, carnivorous plants, ferns, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 45 cycads, cacti, succulents, medicinal collections brought to Washington, DC, plants, rare and endangered plants, and from the South Seas by the U.S. plants valued as sources of food, Exploring Expedition of 1838–42, under beverages, fibers, and other industrial the leadership of Capt. Charles Wilkes. products. Specialty exhibits range from The collections were placed temporarily artwork inspired by plants to seasonal on exhibition at the Patent Office upon flower shows highlighting the beauty of return of the expedition in June 1842. chrysanthemums, poinsettias, spring The first greenhouse for this purpose was flowers, and attractive summer terrace constructed in 1842 on a lot behind the arrangements. Patent Office Building under the Outdoor plantings are showcased in direction and control of the Joint Bartholdi Park. Also located in this park Committee of Congress on the Library, is Bartholdi Fountain, created by from funds appropriated by Congress. Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi (1834–1904), The act of May 15, 1850 (9 Stat. 427), sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. To the provided for the relocation of the west of the Conservatory, a rose garden Botanic Garden under the direction of marks the border of a 3-acre tract that is the Joint Committee on the Library. The the future site of the National Garden. site selected was on The Mall at the west The Botanic Garden offers educational end of the Capitol Grounds, practically facilities by making available for study to the same site the Garden occupied students, botanists, and floriculturists during the period it functioned under the many rare and interesting botanical Columbia Institute. This site was later specimens. Every year botanical enlarged, and the main area continued specimens are received from all over the to serve as the principal Botanic Garden world with requests for identification, site from 1850 to 1933, when the and one of the services rendered by the Garden was relocated to its present site. Garden to the public is the identification of such specimens and the furnishing of Although the Botanic Garden began information relating to the proper functioning as a Government-owned methods of growing them. institution in 1842, the records indicate The U.S. Botanic Garden was founded that it was not until 1856 that the in 1820 under the auspices of the maintenance of the Garden was Columbian Institute for the Promotion of specifically placed under the direction of Arts and Sciences, an organization that the Joint Committee on the Library and was the outgrowth of an association a regular, annual appropriation was known as the Metropolitan Society and provided by Congress (11 Stat. 104). that received its charter from Congress At the present time the Joint on April 20, 1818. The Garden Committee exercises its supervision continued under the direction of this through the Architect of the Capitol, who Institute until 1837, when the Institute has been serving as Acting Director ceased to exist as an active organization. since 1934. The Botanic Garden remained The Botanic Garden is open to the abandoned until 1842, when it became public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. necessary for the Government to provide Hours may be extended during special accommodations for the botanical shows or exhibits.

For further information concerning the United States Botanic Garden, contact the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, DC 20515. Phone, 202–228–1793.