On an April day in 1966, the North Carolina Botanical Garden opened its first site to the public: a nature trail through an oak-hickory forest.

A large sign greeted visitors: "This is a trail in the North Carolina Botanical Garden. You are invited to walk the trail at different seasons, to enjoy the changing variety in nature, to observe the development of the Garden, and to suggest appropriate ways in which the Garden may better serve its purposes of conservation, education, and research. - C.R. Bell, Director. 10 April 1966." In the last 60 years, NCBG has blossomed into an 1,200+ acre assemblage of gardens and natural areas; a center for the study and protection of southeastern plants; and a place where people come to connect with and learn about plants and nature. None of this would've been possible without the efforts of early staff members, work-study students, and volunteers, who poured countless hours into helping the Garden flourish. The last 20 years have seen even more growth: the construction of the Allen Education Center complex – the first state-owned LEED Platinum certified building in North Carolina; the hiring of the Garden's first full-time director, Damon Waitt; the public opening of new natural areas, like Parker Preserve; and the adoption of new community programs like Edible Campus and the Carolina Community Garden – just to name a few! To everyone who's been with us along the way: thank you. Here's to the next 60 years!