Album: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens at National Capital Parks - East

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is the only National Park Service site devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants. Located on the east side of the Anacostia River in the northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., the landscape has made botanical, educational, and recreational contributions to the history of the city and the nation. The landscape period of significance is 1882 to 1938, beginning when Civil War veteran and U.S. Treasury clerk Walter Shaw began planting water lilies here as a hobby. The area expanded and transformed to become a commercial farm and then a public park. Today, many of the features that illustrate the property's construction and historic use can still be experienced by visitors. It is a popular destination for birdwatching, nature observation, and photography in all seasons.