Orchids: Hidden Stories of Groundbreaking Women

Escape the winter cold and step into a floral oasis in the Kogod Courtyard with Orchids: Hidden Stories of Groundbreaking Women. The exhibition highlights unsung horticultural heroines and solidifies their ongoing influence on orchid collections.

Visitors can see several hundred varieties of orchids alongside stories of women’s history in the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, which is shared by SAAM and the National Portrait Gallery. This exhibition was organized by Smithsonian Gardens in collaboration with the United States Botanic Garden and features the living collections from both organizations.

Orchids: Hidden Stories of Groundbreaking Women unearths stories of women who have enriched our understanding and appreciation of orchids. Despite their remarkable achievements in art, botanical illustration, orchid cultivation, and scientific discovery, many of the featured women have not received the recognition they deserve.

Support for Orchids: Hidden Stories of Groundbreaking Women was provided by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative.