Norfolk Botanical Garden is celebrating its history and the people who made it possible in a deeply meaningful way. The garden recently honored the Black workers who built it 88 years ago, and in a significant new step, added four more names to the recognition of those who shaped one of the region’s most beloved green spaces.
The garden’s origins trace back to the late 1930s, when African American workers — many employed through the Works Progress Administration — cleared the land, dug the canals, and planted the trees and flowers that would become the foundation of what Norfolk residents enjoy today. For decades, their contributions went largely uncelebrated, but the garden has been working to correct that, ensuring their legacy is woven into the story the garden tells about itself.
The addition of four new names represents a continued commitment to researching and recognizing the individuals whose labor gave the garden its start. It is a reminder that community spaces are built by real people, and that honoring their memory keeps that community spirit alive across generations.
Norfolk Botanical Garden spans more than 175 acres and draws visitors from across the Hampton Roads region and beyond. It features dozens of themed gardens, miles of walking paths, and year-round programming for families, students, and nature lovers. The garden serves not only as a place of beauty and recreation but as a living classroom and gathering place for the Norfolk community.
This act of historical recognition reflects a growing effort by cultural institutions across the country to surface the stories of workers and contributors who helped shape public spaces but were overlooked in the historical record. For Norfolk, it is a proud and poignant moment — a chance to look back with gratitude and forward with a fuller, more complete sense of shared heritage.
Residents are encouraged to visit Norfolk Botanical Garden to experience its beauty firsthand and to learn more about the remarkable people whose work made it all possible.
Sources: WTKR
