Our Story

The Civic Garden Center was founded in 1942 by two women who wanted to help people build Victory Gardens during World War II. In the intervening decades, our mission and vision have remained remarkably consistent: supporting gardening anywhere and everywhere, encouraging a love of nature, and helping people to be good stewards of the environment.

There are a million individual stories woven into our 80-year history, connecting the CGC to the countless people who have attended our classes, fed their families with the seasonal bounty of a community garden, planted a native tree at a workday in the woods, or volunteered at our annual plant sale.

The milestones below reflect our history of innovation and adaptation, experimentation and collaboration. Plants and people remain at the core of what we do. At a time when plants are increasingly recognized as critical to our future and the future of the planet, we are gratified to be here, offering our mission of community and sustainability to our neighbors. In the face of major modern global challenges, we must protect the biodiversity of plants. They hold vital information and solutions to help us cope with these very problems.

In 2022, we celebrate 80 years as a resource and—as the Cincinnati Enquirer wrote of the CGC in 1944—“a civic asset of importance.” We’ll keep showing up to build community around gardens, trees, ecology, and the need to live more sustainably together.

1942

Mrs. Charles Bosworth, then president of Federated Garden Clubs of Cincinnati, and Mrs. Arthur Osmond introduced the concept of a horticultural center to answer gardening questions for Cincinnati residents. The Civic Garden Center was officially opened in March of 1942 with the late Peggy (Pogue) Macneale as first director.

1949

The Civic Beautification Awards event was established to honor businesses and organizations who demonstrate excellence in the design and maintenance of greenspace.

1951

Cornelius J. Hauck donated a portion of his beautiful ‘Sooty Acres’ property to be a permanent home for the Civic Garden Center. The new building included a designated location to house the horticultural library and demonstration space for classes and floral displays. The original building is now the Hoffman Library.

1960

The seeds of the annual Plant, Herb and Hosta sale were planted when the Valley Hills Garden Club met at the Civic Garden Center to swap and discuss the many merits of herbs.

1971

Operation Green Thumb began to promote children’s outdoor gardening. Junior Conservation Corps, Mini-Gardens and Project Grow developed as part of the program to educate and promote the scientific and aesthetic value of plants.

1981

Civic Garden Center Director Margie Rauh and Education Director Gary Goosman initiated the Community Gardens outreach program, which quickly became a national model adopted by other cities. The Over-the-Rhine People’s Garden was such a community success that it gave birth to the Civic Garden Center’s Community Gardens Program.

1997

The Growlab program was established in collaboration with Cincinnati Public Schools, helping to incorporate the wonderful world of plants into their curriculum.

1999

Phase one of the Pat Kipp Memorial Shade Garden was planted to honor the Civic Garden Center Horticulture Director and noted Hosta expert. Mrs. Kipp was one of the first Cincinnati gardeners to herald the diversity and beauty of Hosta in the shade garden.

2000

Hamilton County Environmental Services designated the Civic Garden Center an Official Compost Demonstration Site. An Outdoor Classroom was constructed, featuring compost education displays and various compost bins and systems.

2004

The Peg Macneale Memorial Daffodil Garden was dedicated in memory of the Civic Garden Center’s first Executive Director.

2006

The Community Gardens Program celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. The first Flavors of Community Gardens event is held to celebrate the fall harvest.

2010

Green Learning Station groundbreaking ceremony was held with Ohio’s First Lady, Frances Strickland. The Memorial Shade Garden was renovated and rededicated as the Serenity Garden.

2011

Exterior renovations to the Green Learning Station were completed. The site opened to the public with a festive dedication ceremony, and the Civic Garden Center’s STEM field trip program was instituted. The School Gardens Program was launched as a three-year pilot program funded by the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.

2013

Interior renovation of the Green Learning Station commenced, thanks to grants from generous local foundations. The Green Learning Team STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) enrichment program launched with the first group of high school students’ field trip.

2016

The first set of solar panels was installed on the roof of the Green Learning Station.

2017

The Civic Garden Center became the first organization in the City of Cincinnati approved to use rainwater for indoor use.

2018

The second array of solar panels was installed over Green Learning Station’s outside stairs with help of Green Girls in STEM.

2019

The Civic Garden Center launched its new Treeforestation program and began work at its first habitat restoration site in partnership with Cincinnati Parks and Walnut Hills High School.

2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Civic Garden Center began to offer virtual education for the first time, launching a new Victory Gardens education effort to help the wave of new pandemic-era gardeners get growing.

2021

The Community Gardens Program celebrated its 40th anniversary with gardeners in a regional network now more than 75 community gardens strong. The Civic Garden Center held its first fall plant sale focusing on all native plants.

2022

The Civic Garden Center celebrated its 80th anniversary. Next up: Achieve designation as a Level 1 Arboretum!