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One of my favorite spots in DC to visit during the Cherry Blossom Festival, especially on the weekdays when there aren't too many people around! The gardens are beautiful on their own, and the cherry blossoms really add to it. This is a great spot to just sit and read a book at. I love the signs throughout the gardens that give insights into its significance and history around it.
Named after Enid Annenburg Haupt, publisher of Seventeen magazine and philanthropist who made significant contributions towards horticulture, the Enid A. Haupt Garden is a beautiful four acre garden located between he Smithsonian Castle and Independence Avenue, and is apparently on the roofs of the National Museum of African Art, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, and the S. Dillon Ripley Center. The garden is absolutely gorgeous, and it is divided into the Moongate Garden, the Fountain Garden, and the Parterre. The Moongate Garden is inspired by the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China; the Fountain Garden is modeled after the Court of the Lions at Alhambra, a 13th-century Moorish palace and fortress in Granada, Spain; and the Parterre is styled after an ornamental garden from 16th century Renaissance Italy. Words cannot adequately describe the beauty of the garden -- you need to see it for yourself. If you are in DC, a walk through the Enid A. Haupt Garden is a must! Also, there are designated charging stations to charge your electronic devices. [Yelp collections: East Coast 2022; Washington, DC 2022; Parks and Gardens]
What a beautiful garden to enjoy during the fall. The architecture and green areas made this a beautiful place to visit.
My favorite corner of DC. These photos were taken in the spring season but it is just so beautiful year-round. If you're on the mall, head behind the Smithsonian Castle and explore these pretty gardens. They're unreal.
The garden is in front of Smithsonian Castle. I visited in April during cherry blossom Festival. At that time Magnolia was blooming, so beautiful.
This is a nice little respite while out for a day in DC. It's also a bit of an extension for exhibit space, obviously. You can just take in the area as you take a breather. Sit and take in the day, let the sun soak your face. Or take a nice stroll through the grounds. Take in some statues along the way or just take in the beauty of the flowers and trees. Not really much else to say about this place as I left my mind go blank while taking in my surroundings.
A cool thing about the museums is that many are surrounded by outdoor attractions. Enid A Haupt Garden is located in the middle of several museums. This is a nice place to walk through. It's not a large garden but there's numerous displays. You can get a look as you move between each museum. It kind of is hidden from the National Mall so you have to walk awhile. It's behind the Smithsonian Castle. Surrounding it are several art museums. Most notably is the Freer and Sackler Gallery. There's also the National Museum of African Art on the other side. Inside the garden are several individual gardens. The Parterre is the main one. The gardens are a good area to relax after the museums. In it are several benches. The garden is the best in the spring when all the flowers bloom but it's always pretty any time.
This garden is beautiful. I work nearby and often find myself here for a quick break or to relax after work. It is a popular garden, so you won't find yourself alone, necessarily. But I love it because everyone is so happy and excited to be here and you will find lots of picture taking happening here. If you need some relaxation and beauty in your life, it's the perfect place to visit.
It was nice to see the magnolia blossoms at Enid Haupt Garden made it through the crazy weather we had this week. The garden is located at the Smithsonian Castle, and it's beautiful any time of the year.
Located along the National Mall behind the Smithsonian Institution Building (AKA the Smithsonian Castle), the garden is a great place to visit in any season, but it is especially beautiful in the Spring when the flowers are in bloom. This is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll, relaxing on one of the numerous benches/sitting areas, or to experience after visiting the numerous FREE museums located nearby on the National Mall.
What a beautiful garden! A free spot offered to the visitors and citizens of Washington, DC, and it's located in front of the aptly nicknamed "Castle" of the Smithsonian Institute. Interesting fact: it is actually a roof top garden. Who knew? When I saw the gardens, it was decked out in the last remains of the Christmas finery, with vases of Holly Berries set on pedestals surrounding the sculpted grounds. I especially loved the carved Fleur de Lis.
9 months ago
This is a peaceful and gorgeous garden which is directly behind the Smithsonian Castle. Although the garden is hidden from the Mall, you can catch a glimpse from Independence Avenue. The garden also has a direct entrance to the National Asian Art Museum (Sackler Gallery entrance) as well as the National Museum of African Art. In the fall, the colorful leaves are gorgeous and well worth a visit. If it's warm enough outdoors, you can find a few benches here and there to sit down and admire the garden. Enjoy! read more
This magical garden is ticket between the Smithsonian art galleries. The meticulous garden & pristine lawn we're inviting. The array of colorful flowers were tucked between seating. Some sculptures and solar phone charging stations were utilized . The gardens are all connected around the Smithsonian and the national mall. read more
This is one of my favorite Smithsonian Gardens. It's the 4.3 acre garden that is nestled between the National Museum of Asian Art and the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building. It also sits above the underground quadrangle complex in what used to be known as the South Yard. We happened to enter it from a walkway on the side of the Freer Gallery of Arts building. The path of beautiful tropical flowers lead us to the Smithsonian Castle and The Parterre. It felt like just another hidden garden on the National Mall until we saw the Renwick Gates on the way out to Independence Ave. It's a very grand entrance to the castle. There's even more to discover as you walk around Enid A. Haupt Garden. Make sure to continue your walk around the pavilion entrances of the Sackler Gallery and the National Museum of African Art. You'll come across the Moongate Garden that is inspired by the Temple of Heaven Garden. The gates and walkways are made of pink granite. There's a black granite pool surrounding it. There is also a Moorish fountain that faces the Museum of African Art. You wouldn't even know that it's all there unless you walk through the garden. This beautiful garden restoration of the quadrangle was made possible through a generous donation from horticultural philanthropist Enid Annenburg Haupt. I didn't know who she was until doing a little research. She's credited for partly funding Gerald Van Der Kemp's orchid project at Monet's Garden in Giverny. She is best known for her $34 million gift to the New York Botanical Garden & Conservatory. Her name lives on through many of these projects. read more
1 year ago
One of my favorite spots in DC to visit during the Cherry Blossom Festival, especially on the weekdays when there aren't too many people around! The gardens are beautiful on their own, and the cherry blossoms really add to it. This is a great spot to just sit and read a book at. I love the signs throughout the gardens that give insights into its significance and history around it. read more
4 years ago
Named after Enid Annenburg Haupt, publisher of Seventeen magazine and philanthropist who made significant contributions towards horticulture, the Enid A. Haupt Garden is a beautiful four acre garden located between he Smithsonian Castle and Independence Avenue, and is apparently on the roofs of the National Museum of African Art, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, and the S. Dillon Ripley Center. The garden is absolutely gorgeous, and it is divided into the Moongate Garden, the Fountain Garden, and the Parterre. The Moongate Garden is inspired by the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China; the Fountain Garden is modeled after the Court of the Lions at Alhambra, a 13th-century Moorish palace and fortress in Granada, Spain; and the Parterre is styled after an ornamental garden from 16th century Renaissance Italy. Words cannot adequately describe the beauty of the garden -- you need to see it for yourself. If you are in DC, a walk through the Enid A. Haupt Garden is a must! Also, there are designated charging stations to charge your electronic devices. [Yelp collections: East Coast 2022; Washington, DC 2022; Parks and Gardens] read more
2 years ago
Beautiful place for portraits and family photographs. My family really enjoyed their visit. read more
3 years ago
The garden is in front of Smithsonian Castle. I visited in April during cherry blossom Festival. At that time Magnolia was blooming, so beautiful. read more
6 years ago
This is a nice little respite while out for a day in DC. It's also a bit of an extension for exhibit space, obviously. You can just take in the area as you take a breather. Sit and take in the day, let the sun soak your face. Or take a nice stroll through the grounds. Take in some statues along the way or just take in the beauty of the flowers and trees. Not really much else to say about this place as I left my mind go blank while taking in my surroundings. read more
A cool thing about the museums is that many are surrounded by outdoor attractions. Enid A Haupt Garden is located in the middle of several museums. This is a nice place to walk through. It's not a large garden but there's numerous displays. You can get a look as you move between each museum. It kind of is hidden from the National Mall so you have to walk awhile. It's behind the Smithsonian Castle. Surrounding it are several art museums. Most notably is the Freer and Sackler Gallery. There's also the National Museum of African Art on the other side. Inside the garden are several individual gardens. The Parterre is the main one. The gardens are a good area to relax after the museums. In it are several benches. The garden is the best in the spring when all the flowers bloom but it's always pretty any time. read more
This garden is beautiful. I work nearby and often find myself here for a quick break or to relax after work. It is a popular garden, so you won't find yourself alone, necessarily. But I love it because everyone is so happy and excited to be here and you will find lots of picture taking happening here. If you need some relaxation and beauty in your life, it's the perfect place to visit. read more
3 years ago
It was nice to see the magnolia blossoms at Enid Haupt Garden made it through the crazy weather we had this week. The garden is located at the Smithsonian Castle, and it's beautiful any time of the year. read more
Located along the National Mall behind the Smithsonian Institution Building (AKA the Smithsonian Castle), the garden is a great place to visit in any season, but it is especially beautiful in the Spring when the flowers are in bloom. This is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll, relaxing on one of the numerous benches/sitting areas, or to experience after visiting the numerous FREE museums located nearby on the National Mall. read more
7 years ago
What a beautiful garden! A free spot offered to the visitors and citizens of Washington, DC, and it's located in front of the aptly nicknamed "Castle" of the Smithsonian Institute. Interesting fact: it is actually a roof top garden. Who knew? When I saw the gardens, it was decked out in the last remains of the Christmas finery, with vases of Holly Berries set on pedestals surrounding the sculpted grounds. I especially loved the carved Fleur de Lis. read more
What a hidden gem! How many times have I been in the National Mall and never came across this place until this past weekend. It is beautiful. Not too crowded either. it's small.. and a nice break from the busy-ness of the mall for sure. Nice collection of some plants and trees and a place to just sit down and relax. read more
A garden that isn't a destination, but once tourists stumble upon it, it becomes one. It's a large garden behind the Smithsonian Castle (not the most interesting Smithsonian museum). There's one large garden in the center with plenty of benches for reading/resting. But don't stay there. There are smaller gardens to the left and the right worth exploring especially during the cherry blossoms. If you like gardens, this is one of the best in DC! read more
11 years ago
Bottom Line: A lovely garden behind the Smithsonian Institution Building, fondly nicknamed the Castle. Sheesh, I really need to get out more as I didn't realize until a few weeks ago that the Smithsonian Institution Building's backyard is a four acre garden. I was here in the winter and it was beautiful so I imagine in the warmer months it must be absolutely mesmerizing. Aside from the flora and fauna, it is also cool to know you are standing over top of underground art museums. The Enid A Haupt Garden is actually just one of Smithsonian's many gardens. And within the Haupt Garden there are several "sub-gardens." The Parterre garden, which is a formal, flat and symmetrical garden, is the crowning jewel here. Even though the Haupt garden was not created until 1987 it looks like its original to the Castle which dates back to 1855. Something else that is worth noticing here are the huge stone and cast iron carriage gates at Independence Avenue. Although these gates were built around 1979 they are based on James Renwick Jr.'s design (as in the Renwick Gallery). The Haupt Gardens are easily accessible from the Smithsonian Metro Stop on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines. read more
9 years ago
4 years ago
A great place for a quick stroll, photo opportunities, or to work/read. Maybe even a summer mini picnic(on a bench though)! Although there is open grass, no picnicking is allowed on it. However, there are benches scattered throughout the gardens. Free Wifi! This picturesque garden is actually comprised of three gardens in Chinese, Victorian, and Moorish styles. Currently, the Moongate garden is full of magnolias (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/uV2sQQS8JeMhUj-FLpb2ng?select=wiIQY1AwhtVLMO3yUjmjcA), the formal Parterre complements the beautiful Smithsonian Castle (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/uV2sQQS8JeMhUj-FLpb2ng?select=P0PQ3KLHQqoaqbxaLX5QJA), and the Fountain Garden is a quiet paradise. Unfortunately, the Fountain Garden is currently under construction. Tours are Wednesdays 1pm May to September. Free admission, and open dawn until dusk. Entrance is located on Independence Ave SW north of DOE/L'enfant promenade, west of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, and east of Freer and Sackler. Just look for the Smithsonian Castle. read more
10 years ago
There is literally no reason to give this beautiful garden anything less than 5 stars. It's free. It's full of a wide range of plants and flowers which change seasonally. There are fun facts about most of the plants for you to read. There are tons of benches (in both sun and shade), so you can sit and enjoy the gardens, a snack or a chat with friends. The gardens extend throughout this fun space between the Smithsonian Castle, African Art, Arts and Industries Building and Sackler Gallery so there is plenty to explore and even some space to hide out if you just want to be alone. I'm lucky enough to be able to walk through the gardens daily and they never fail to bring a huge smile to my face :) read more
The Enid A Haupt Garden is a delightful little green refuge tucked away amongst the throngs of tourists. Located behind the Smithsonian Castle Visitors Center (between Independence and Jefferson), the garden is a lovely spot to take a breather from the frenziness just outside its gates. The day we visited we were on a search for tulips and found them here! The manicured the Victorian Parterre was loaded with them (and pansies and hyacinths and magnolia trees and more.) The gardens are free (there is complimentary wifi too) and even though it might get a tad busy (mostly on weekends, I would assume) there is plenty of seating: benches and even tables and chairs. A few people had brought lunches and were enjoying them in the sunshine. Some areas away from the Castle's main entrance are quite secluded and practically deserted. There are different sections of the garden and signs that explain their significance. For example, there is an Arabic fountain garden which was modeled after one of the Alhambra courtyards in Spain. The Moongate Garden was inspired by the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The entrance to the National African Art Museum is located just inside the garden's gates and the day we visited, we were lucky to catch a 3 piece jazz ensemble playing in the lobby. You can also tour a portion of the Smithsonian Castle (though most of it seemed closed off to visitors.) The Great Hall housed period furnishings and the gallery holds select artifacts from the Smithsonian's vast collections at various museums. read more
I followed a segway tour and it led me here. hah Hmmm. I didn't get to walk around much, but I'd definitely do a fair share of writing in this garden if I lived around here (especially since Gayle G. says there's wireless). Flowers were in bloom and it made me actually think that spring was, in fact, coming! And sooner than June! PS - I posted some pictures! :) Side note: I've lived in Boston for 6 years and the seasons are about a million years later than everyone else. heh The fun information stuff because I love you: Late May to August it's open from 7am to 9:15pm September to Mid May it's open from 7am to 5:45pm Admission is free and it's closed on December 25th. Take the Metro stop to Smithsonian. :) read more
This is one of my favorite places to take a break in the spring and when the tourons are hitting the Smithsonian in full force. Only in DC would you be able to get online in a garden (the space offers free wifi connectivity). Just step off of Independence Avenue and you'll see the garden when you head towards the Museum of African Art and the Sackler. The garden is actually a rooftop garden above the Ripley Center. There are some really beautiful turn of the century iron furniture and vases here. And in the spring, you can just sit on a bench and smell the flowers-- lots of kinds to see and sniff! TIP: To get access to Smithsonian's connection, associate your wireless to the SSID named "public". read more
This is a great spot for hanging out on a sunny day. The garden is beautiful and there are many benches to sit, read a book, people watch, or eat your lunch. It's also a great location for picture taking. The Smithsonian castle itself is a beautiful photo-friendly goliath. The area on the left offers a zen-like pool and sculptures. If your into botany, there are a variety of plants and flowers to marvel at. I work in the area and often come here when i need a break. It also offers access to the Arthur M. Sackler gallery where you can see some really great asian art and the African art museum. Just past the zen garden is the national mall. Whether you're a tourist or a local, it's worth a visit. read more
4 years ago
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1001 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20004
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Enid A Haupt Garden - gardens - Updated September 2026
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