2. The first botanical gardens in the United States were in Rockefeller Center
Before the site of Rockefeller Center hosted thousands of tourists and some of New York City’s most popular television stars, it was the site of the first botanical garden in the United States. Doctor David Hosack, a well-known doctor known to have aided Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, also had a passion for botany. He channeled this passion into the creation of this garden, which was characterized by a wide variety of medicinal, indigenous, and exotic plants.
In addition to the plants, Hosack’s gardens, known as the Elgin Botanic Garden, included a conservatory and protective wall. These gardens were located more than three miles above city limits but were open to the public from 1801 to 1811. Eventually, Hosack sold the gardens to New York State who allowed them to undergo decay. Today, the Channel Gardens provide a reincarnation of Hosack’s beloved botanical garden.