German-American Friendship Garden facts for kids
The German-American Friendship Garden is a special place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. It shows the strong and friendly relationship between the United States and Germany.
This garden is located near the Washington Monument. It sits between 15th and 17th Streets Northwest on Constitution Avenue. Millions of visitors walk by this spot every year. The garden features plants that grow naturally in both Germany and the United States. It also has places to sit and cool fountains.
History of the Friendship Garden
The German-American Friendship Garden was created to celebrate an important event. It marked 300 years since Germans first started moving to America. The garden was officially opened on November 15, 1988.
President Ronald Reagan helped make the garden happen. He set up a special group called the Presidential Commission. This group worked to finish the project after German Chancellor Helmut Kohl visited Washington in 1982. President Reagan spoke about the garden, saying:
... I'm proud to announce a product of that commission: the dedication of a garden here in Washington as a symbol of the friendship between our two countries. In a few months, I'll be leaving the White House, but the garden, and all it represents, will remain, to be nurtured and sustained by the friendship between Germans and Americans ...
Restoring the Garden's Beauty
In 2013, a project began to restore the Friendship Garden. The German Embassy, the National Park Service, and a group called the Association of German-American Societies of Greater Washington D.C. all worked together. They signed an agreement to create a special fund. Money from this fund helps pay for keeping the garden beautiful.
With this support, work on the garden could begin. New plants and flowers were added in the fall. An updated watering system was also put in place. The main central area of the garden was fixed up and partly redesigned.
The entire restoration followed the original ideas of Wolfgang Oehme. He was a landscape artist born in Germany. The landscaping company Oehme van Sweden guided the work.
