USDA Closes Public Access to U.S. National Arboretum Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

Effective today, the U.S. National Arboretum grounds and outdoor garden collections will be closed.
Photo by: shell_ghostcage

In a continued effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service will close public access to all areas of the U.S. National Arboretum. Effective today, the grounds and outdoor garden collections will be closed, and all activities and tours have been cancelled until further notice. The Administration Building/Visitor Center along with the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum were closed as of March 14. Employees will have access to the facility to continue the important botanical research and to care for the arboretum’s gardens and collections.

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.