The Chicago Botanic Garden is a living museum whose mission is to cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. A nonprofit run as a public/private partnership with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, it inspires people to connect with plants through science, urban agriculture, lifelong learning, and the beauty of horticulture. The Garden traces its origins to the Chicago Horticultural Society, founded in 1890. Groundbreaking took place in 1965 and the Garden opened in 1972. It is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and operated by the Chicago Horticultural Society. Work includes horticultural collections and displays, plant-conservation science, and programs across greater Chicago and beyond.
