The United States Botanic Garden is rooted in the nation’s heritage. During the late 18th century George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison shared the dream of having a national botanic garden and were instrumental in the establishing one on the National Mall in 1820. The Botanic Garden has been in continuous operation and open to the public since 1850. It was formally placed under the jurisdiction of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress in 1856 and has been administered through the Office of the Architect of the Capitol since 1934.