OPEN DAILY 8 A.M.|7 A.M. FOR MEMBERS WED. & SUN.

In 1939, a small group of passionate local citizens saw the need to conserve the beautiful desert environment. One was Swedish botanist Gustaf Starck, who found like-minded residents by posting a sign that read “Save the Desert.”

 

With the support of social influencers of the time such as Gertrude Divine Webster, the Garden’s presence grew. Nearly eight decades later, thanks to leadership and investments from many individuals, Desert Botanical Garden has blossomed from a dream into a living museum.

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Celebrate the Garden all year long

What started in 1939 as a dream to save the desert, has blossomed into the living museum you see today. Join us for special programing every month as we celebrate our 85th anniversary.

September 2024 | Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month & Fall Programming.

October 2024
 | Celebrate Monarchs in the Fall Butterfly exhibit.

November 2024
 | Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Celebration.

December 2024
 | Celebrate Las Noches de las Luminarias with LIGHT BLOOM.

January 2025
 | Celebrate a new year with a commitment to conservation.

Historical Timeline

See how the Garden has grown during its history into a compelling attraction and desert conservation pioneer.

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People shoveling

1939

The Garden opens its doors to the public.

photo of cactus

1942

World War II brings most Garden activity to a halt. Arizona State Teachers College, now Arizona State University, provides administrative oversight while volunteers work to sustain the fragile collections on site.

Historical photo of Gertrude Webster - The Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, AZ

1947

Gertrude Webster dies leaving her estate to support the Garden.

square house in the dirt

1952

Archer House is built and named in honor of Lou Ella Archer, a founding member who contributed time and talent to early fund drives.

two men posing for photo

1957

Under W. Taylor Marshall's leadership, the Garden’s collections increase from 1,000 specimens at the end of World War II to more than 18,000 specimens.

antique cars parked outside of visitors center

1961

The visitor center and gift shop are added.

desert botanical garden first sign

1963

Galvin Parkway opens and provides direct access to the public.

construction of library for dbg

1970

The new library is built to house a valuable donation of rare books and prints.

newspaper article of desert garden seeks docents

1977

The Docent Program is established as part of the Education Department to provide guided and informative tours.

light walkway at dbg

1979

Luminarias welcomed 600 guests for the very first Las Noches de las Luminaries.

tall cactus photo with people visiting the garden

1983

The American Association of Museums accredits the Garden. Only 24 gardens have earned this distinction.

square building

1985

Desert Botanical Garden becomes a charter member of the Center for Plant Conservation—a consortium of botanical gardens devoted to preserving rare flora of the United States.

children learning about plants

1988

Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail opens.

sign to dbg the garden is growing back to back

1992

The Garden secures a National Science Foundation grant to expand and upgrade the trail system.

desert botanical garden admission entrance

2002

Garden completes a $17 million expansion, which includes a new entry and admissions area, gift shop, Dorrance Hall, a 400-seat reception hall and gallery, the Nina Mason Pulliam Research and Horticulture Center.

scenery with cactus and plants

2008

$17.8 million campaign transforms old Cactus and Succulent Houses into Sybil. B Harrington Cactus and Succulent Galleries and opens Ottosen Entry Garden.

Berlin Agave Yucca Forest

2009

Joy and Howard Berlin Agave Yucca Forest opens.

desert botanical garden

2010

Center for Desert Living Trail is refurbished.

desert botanical garden

2013

The Garden celebrates its 75th anniversary and launches The Saguaro Initiative, a fundraising campaign to invest in the future of the Garden.

desert

2014

The Central Arizona Conservation Alliance is formed to study, protect and promote the Valley’s mountain park preserves.

DBG History Spaces 2015

2015

Spaces of Opportunity is a community initiative in south Phoenix working to transform a food desert to a food oasis through an incubator farm, family gardens and farmers market.

cactus and plants surrounding infrastructure

2015

The Virginia G. Piper Desert Terrace Garden and the Lewis Desert Portal open.

plants and cactus at the garden

2017

New Butterfly Exhibit and Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science open.

DBG History GardenShop

2018

The Garden Shop expands 1,200 square feet and a new Plant Shop is launched.

Electric Desert at Desert Botanical Garden

2019

From Oct. 2018 through May 2019 more than 190,000 visitors were wowed by the immersive experience of Electric Desert | A Light and Sound Experience by Klip Collective.

Wild Rising Exhibit

2020

Straight from Milan, Italy, the Garden is invaded by more than 1,000 animal sculptures made from colorful and recyclable plastic.

Ottosen Entry Garden at Desert Botanical Garden

2020

The Garden closes its doors to the public for 16 weeks, in response to COVID-19. This marks the second time in the Garden's history. The first closure was in 40s due to WWII.

Waterlily Pond Studio Wind Installation

2021

The Garden presents its first-ever live floral show featuring large-scale living sculptures created by Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz of Waterlily Pond Studio.

Chihuly Encabezado

2021

Chihuly in the Desert arrives and showcases Dale Chihuly’s stunning, large-scale installations nestled among the Garden’s world-class collection of desert plants.

2023

The Garden hosts Arizona's first-ever exhibition of paintings, drawings and monumental sculptures by Colombian artist, Fernando Botero.

2024

Christensen Family Desert Oasis opens to include entry bridge, calming water features and vibrant displays of seasonal plants and a shaded grove of trees.

Partial funding provided by Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture through appropriations from the Phoenix City Council.
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