• indoor facilities like our auditorium, classroom, and lobby in the Administration Building
• elegant National Herb Garden with arbors and a knot garden
• Administration Building aquatic garden and terrace
• the natural beauty of the Friendship Garden
• M Street Picnic Area
• the captivating National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Pavilion and Courtyard
• National Capitol Columns
• even an entire meadow!

NOTE - Effective June 23rd, 2008
The National Arboretum is in the process of rewriting our facilities rental policy in order to expand our program. We plan to make more sites available and to offer a wider range of choices for your event. During this time of transition, we will not be able to take any new bookings. We expect to begin taking new bookings October 1st, so please check back with us then for information on booking your event. Thank you for your interest in our facilities rental program.

Fees
Fees for use of arboretum facilities or grounds vary, depending on which location is being used. Usage may be broken into half or whole days. A half-day usage is defined as four hours or less; a whole-day usage is defined as more than four hours in a day. In all cases, usage includes all time during which a venue is committed, including time used to set up before and clean up after the event. An additional $40 per hour will be added for supervision for each required U.S. National Arboretum security officer.

A 50 percent non-refundable deposit will be due at the time of booking in order to reserve a specific date and location. The remaining 50 percent is due five working days prior to the event.

Policies
The mission of the U.S. National Arboretum is to conduct research, provide education, and conserve and display trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants to enhance the environment. In accordance with these objectives, the U.S. National Arboretum grounds are open to the public. All visitors are subject to the U.S. National Arboretum rules and regulations.

View the complete rules from the Federal Register (PDF: 73 K)

For more information contact:
Lindsay Hicks
Events Office
phone: (202) 245-2708
E-mail: Lindsay.Hicks@ars.usda.gov

Fee per Venue
Venue	Cost per Day	Comments
Administration Building Terrace	$12,000	Up to 240 seated or 300 standing
National Herb Garden	$10,000	Entrance Circle, Rose and Knot Garden; up to 48 seated or 100 standing; cannot be tented. Specialty Garden: up to 200 standing; may not be tented.
Arboretum Meadow	$15,000	Up to 600 seated and 1,000 standing.
Administration Building Lobby	$2,000	Up to 150 standing.
Administration Building Auditorium	$2,500	Up to 120 seated or 200 standing.
Friendship Garden	$1,500	Up to 60 seated or 100 standing.
National Capitol Columns	$10,000	Up to 190 seated or 400 standing; cannot be tented; includes night lighting of columns.
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Pavilion and Upper Courtyard	$10,000	Up to 120 seated or 200 standing.
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Chinese Pavilion	$10,000	Up to 50 seated or 100 standing.
M Street Picnic Area	$5,000	Up to 200 seated or standing; paved or grassy areas can be tented.
Administration Building Classroom	$125.00	Standard setup with 40 chairs; includes microphone/lectern, screen, projection stand, two flipcharts (no paper) and trashcan.

Photos:
Administration Building Aquatic Garden (top image); Moon Gate in the Chinese Pavilion of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum (middle image); aerial shot of the National Herb Garden (bottom image).