LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 45

of an improved Senate subway system; The serves as preparation of a telecommunication plan a member of the following bodies: for the legislative branch agencies; Capitol Police Board, Capitol Guide leasing of space in Postal Square for Board, District of Columbia Zoning various Senate support services; work on Commission, Advisory Council on security improvements within the Capitol Historic Preservation, National Capital complex; management oversight of the Memorial Commission, Art Advisory Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Committee to the Washington Building; the design and construction of Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the National Garden adjacent to the Heritage Preservation. He is also an ex- Botanic Garden Conservatory; restoration officio member of the United States of the U.S. Botanic Garden Capitol Preservation Commission and the Conservatory; planning for the proposed Commission on the Bicentennial of the Capitol Visitor Center; and direction of . In addition, he the master plan for the future serves as the Coordinator of Civil development of the Capitol complex. Defense for the 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. Internet, http://www.aoc.gov/.

UNITED STATES BOTANIC GARDEN Office of Executive Director, 245 First Street SW., Washington, DC 20024 Phone, 202–225–8333. Internet, http://www.aoc.gov/. Conservatory, Maryland Avenue, First to Second Streets SW., Washington, DC 20024 Phone, 202–225–6647 Production Facility, 4700 Shepherd Parkway SW., Washington, DC 20032 Phone, 202–563–2220

Director (Architect of the Capitol) ALAN M. HANTMAN Executive Director JEFFREY P. COOPER-SMITH

The United States Botanic Garden informs visitors about the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic, and ecological importance of plants to the well-being of humankind.

The U.S. Botanic Garden carries out its The Conservatory, one of the largest mission by presenting artistic displays of structures of its kind in this country, plants, exhibits, and a program of features both indoor exhibits and two educational activities; promoting outdoor courtyard gardens. Collections botanical knowledge through the in this facility attract many visitors cultivation of an ordered collection of annually, including botanists, plants; fostering plant conservation by horticulturists, ecologists, students, and acting as a repository for endangered garden club members. The permanent species; and growing plants for the collections include orchids, epiphytes, beautification of the Capitol complex. bromeliads, carnivorous plants, ferns, Uniquely situated at the heart of the U.S. cycads, cacti, succulents, medicinal Government, the Botanic Garden seeks plants, rare and endangered plants, and to promote the exchange of ideas and plants valued as sources of food, information relevant to this mission beverages, fibers, and other industrial among national and international visitors products. Specialty exhibits range from and policymakers. artwork inspired by plants to seasonal

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flower shows highlighting the beauty of The collections were placed temporarily chrysanthemums, poinsettias, spring on exhibition at the Patent Office upon flowers, and attractive summer terrace return of the expedition in June 1842. arrangements. The first greenhouse for this purpose was Outdoor plantings are showcased in constructed in 1842 on a lot behind the Bartholdi Park. Also located in this park Patent Office Building under the is , created by direction and control of the Joint Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi (1834–1904), Committee of Congress on the Library, sculptor of the . To the from funds appropriated by Congress. west of the Conservatory, a rose garden The act of May 15, 1850 (9 Stat. 427), marks the border of a 3-acre tract that is provided for the relocation of the the future site of the National Garden. Botanic Garden under the direction of The Botanic Garden offers educational the Joint Committee on the Library. The facilities by making available for study to site selected was on The Mall at the west students, botanists, and floriculturists end of the Capitol Grounds, practically many rare and interesting botanical the same site the Garden occupied specimens. Every year botanical during the period it functioned under the specimens are received from all over the Columbia Institute. This site was later world with requests for identification, enlarged, and the main area continued and one of the services rendered by the to serve as the principal Botanic Garden Garden to the public is the identification site from 1850 to 1933, when the of such specimens and the furnishing of Garden was relocated to its present site. information relating to the proper methods of growing them. Although the Botanic Garden began The U.S. Botanic Garden was founded functioning as a Government-owned in 1820 under the auspices of the institution in 1842, the records indicate Columbian Institute for the Promotion of that it was not until 1856 that the Arts and Sciences, an organization that maintenance of the Garden was was the outgrowth of an association specifically placed under the direction of known as the Metropolitan Society and the Joint Committee on the Library and that received its charter from Congress a regular, annual appropriation was on April 20, 1818. The Garden provided by Congress (11 Stat. 104). continued under the direction of this At the present time the Joint Institute until 1837, when the Institute Committee exercises its supervision ceased to exist as an active organization. through the Architect of the Capitol, who The Botanic Garden remained has been serving as Acting Director abandoned until 1842, when it became since 1934. necessary for the Government to provide The Botanic Garden’s Conservatory accommodations for the botanical closed to the public on September 2, collections brought to Washington, DC, 1997, for major renovations. It is from the South Seas by the U.S. expected to reopen in the year 2000. Exploring Expedition of 1838–42, under Bartholdi Park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 the leadership of Capt. Charles Wilkes. p.m. daily.

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. Internet, http:// www.aoc.gov/.

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