Depression-Era Work Built Fort Worth's Botanic Garden

Fort Worth established the Botanic Garden in 1934 during the Great Depression. The work added beauty to the city and jobs for residents. It is Texas's oldest major botanic garden. Today, 23 specialty gardens cover 120 acres.

The Rose Garden predates the garden's formal start. Workers finished it in 1933 with 4,000 tons of Palo Pinto County sandstone. Its ramp and shelter look down toward a reflection pond. The 7.5-acre Japanese Garden opened in 1973, with koi ponds, bridges, cherry trees, and Japanese maples. Hours and admission can change by season.

One side climbs through Depression-era sandstone. Another slows to a stroll around koi and maples. The Cultural District gets two very different kinds of quiet.