Meet NYBG Staff from NYBG’s Library, Science, and Herbarium departments to learn about the work they do each day to support our environment—both behind-the-scenes and around the globe. Enjoy an open house and special tours that provide insights into NYBG’s work in science and our historic collections and how these resources are instrumental for future environmental action.

Friday Tours: A variety of free tours will be on offer, but please note that space is limited to 15 people per tour, and tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Explore the Library: 12 and 2pm
  The LuEsther T. Mertz Library’s outstanding collections represent over a century of commitment to botanical and environmental research. The Mertz Library staff are proud stewards of NYBG’s rich history and invite you to retrace its origins through a self-guided tour of historical documentation, photographs, and ephemera. Also be sure to sign up for a behind-the-scenes look of our general stacks as we take a closer look at some of our most treasured collections.
• Dive Into Our Herbarium Collections: 12 and 2pm
  The William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden is one of the largest collections of its kind in the world, holding 7.8 million plant and fungal specimens from around the globe, and representing 250 years of botanical research. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the treasures held in this museum of preserved plants to see historical collections made by Charles Darwin and other scientists, learn how the collections are made, and their integral role in scientific research and conservation.
• Discover the State-of-the-Art Pfizer Lab: 1 and 3pm
  NYBG Science encompasses several departments and programs and includes more than one hundred scientists, including staff, graduate students, Emeritus Curators, and Adjunct Scientists. All are working toward the Garden’s scientific mission to explore, understand, and conserve Earth’s vast botanical diversity.

To receive free grounds admission on October 18, mention you are visiting NYBG for Open House New York Weekend (OHNY Weekend) when you check-in at the ticket window.

Note that the Lab, Herbarium, and Library are approximately a 5-minute walk from the Mosholu Entrance at 2950 Southern Blvd and a 10-minute walk from the main entrance at 2900 Southern Blvd. Plan to arrive at NYBG at least 10 minutes before the start time of a tour. Note that tours are limited to 15 people at a time, and spots may fill up well in advance on the day of the tours.