The University of California, Riverside is highly known for its incredible Bell Tower, but while the Bell Tower is a great site the campus offers a one of a kind Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden has been around since the 1960's and till this day is always improving. The Botanical Garden welcomes people to experience it's blooming flowers, hiking trails, plants, and wildlife. While the Botanical Garden offers a beautiful sight it also serves other purposes, to serve the community by contributing to research for the university, volunteer options, and fundraisers to benefit the university's programs.
Located in the eastern foothills of the Box Springs Mountains on Botanic Gardens Drive, Riverside, it is home to around 3,500 different species
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Goodman, a botanist and educator raised concerns on the lack of knowledge he had of western plants due to being raised in Missouri. His concerns grew as he knew that without a botanic Garden close by his research and education programs would lack certain information. He soon proposed the idea of a botanical Garden in 1954 and in 1962 funds were finally given to begin the development of what was once known as the "Life Sciences Experimental Area". Dr. Vasek was appointed as the first director in 1962, in which he oversaw the first plantings until 1967. Many others over the years were in charge of the construction and plantation of the Garden but as stated on the UCR Botanic Garden website, "A number of important improvements were made to the Gardens during Dr. Gillette's charge, including asphalting the main drive and constructing several bridges, the pond, and the office and garage" (About us, History). Dr. George Gillet headed the Garden from 1967 to 1973, in which the "Life Sciences Experimental Area" became the UCR Botanical Gardens. As time progressed so did the Botanical Garden and is still progressing till this