Fort Worth Botanic Garden Earns the Nation’s Highest Museum Honor

Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) has officially earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national honor a museum can receive. Accreditation from AAM places FWBG among an elite group of institutions nationwide. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only about 1,100 are AAM-accredited. That makes the Fort Worth Botanic Garden part of a small, elite circle of institutions recognized for excellence.

“This accreditation is more than a credential — it’s a reflection of years of hard work, integrity, and dedication from our staff, volunteers, and board,” said Patrick Newman, FWBG President and CEO. “It tells our community, our partners, and every visitor who walks through our gates that Fort Worth Botanic Garden meets the highest standards in our field.”

Why a Botanic Garden Counts as a Museum

How does a garden earn a museum accreditation? The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) recognizes botanic gardens as specialized museums — institutions that meet the same rigorous professional standards as art or history museums, but with a distinct focus on living plant collections, conservation, and public education. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s work in these areas, as well as the extraordinary achievements of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), the Garden’s research arm, are what qualified it to pursue accreditation.

“We commend the thoughtful and successful merger of BRIT with the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, bringing distinct institutional identities into a shared mission and operational framework while maintaining a strong level of cohesion across the operation,” said Lisa Tremper Hanover, Chair, Accreditation Commission Independent Professional, Former Museum Director & CEO.

Joining an Elite National Circle

AAM accreditation puts Fort Worth Botanic Garden in the company of some of the most respected cultural institutions in the country. Nationally, AAM accredited institutions include renowned museums such as the American Museum of Natural History, the National Air & Space Museum – Smithsonian Institution, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other major art, history, and science institutions across the country. Among public gardens specifically, accreditation is even more rare. FWBG joins the Chicago Botanic Garden — one of the largest and most-visited public gardens in the country, the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., and the New York Botanical Garden to name some of the prestigious few.

Closer to home, FWBG also joins esteemed Fort Worth cultural institutions that have earned this same AAM distinction, including the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Sid Richardson Museum. Being named alongside these institutions places the Fort Worth Botanic Garden squarely within the city’s tradition of world-class cultural excellence.

What Accreditation Really Means

AAM accreditation isn’t handed out lightly. It’s the field’s gold standard for quality, accountability, and public trust — built and upheld by museum professionals for more than 50 years. Earning accreditation means an institution has proven, rigorous independent review, that it operates with excellence, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the public it serves.

The process is as demanding as the honor is meaningful. FWBG completed a full year of intensive self-study, followed by an on-site review from a team of peer experts. From there, AAM’s independent Accreditation Commission — a panel of seasoned museum professionals — evaluated every finding before making its final determination.

A Milestone Worth Celebrating

This recognition affirms what Fort Worth has always known: the Fort Worth Botanic Garden isn’t just a beautiful place to visit — it’s a nationally respected institution held to the same standards as the country’s leading museums. For the community, it’s a signal that the Garden is trusted, transparent, and built for longevity. For the Garden, it’s a foundation to keep growing, innovating, and serving the public for generations to come.

In celebration of this achievement, FWBG is extending a buy-one-get-one-free admission offer to all guests during the month of August, inviting the community to come experience firsthand the collections and programs that earned the Garden this national distinction. Tickets for this offer must be purchased in person at the Garden and are not available online. Summer hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the last tickets sold at 2 p.m.

About the Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Nestled in Fort Worth’s vibrant Cultural District, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden holds the distinction of being Texas’s oldest public botanic garden, a 120-acre oasis just two miles west of downtown that invites guests to discover world-class botanical treasures spanning continents and cultures.

Explore 23 specialty gardens, managed natural areas, and collections greenhouses that weave together stories of distant lands and local heritage. The historic Rose Garden creates a tapestry of color and fragrance, while the tranquil Japanese Garden transports guests to a world of peaceful beauty. From intimate specialty collections to expansive natural landscapes, each distinct area offers its own botanical narrative.

Beyond its stunning displays, the Garden also serves as a hub for discovery and learning. Families and adults engage with nature through educational programs, while groundbreaking research unfolds through the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®). The BRIT Philecology Herbarium houses nearly 1.5 million plant specimens—ranking among the largest herbaria in the United States—while the BRIT Research Library’s nearly 125,000 volumes represent a world-class repository of plant science knowledge. BRIT Press publishes scholarly books and the peer-reviewed journal JBRIT, contributing vital research to the global scientific community.

Whether you’re seeking peaceful contemplation among exotic blooms, educational adventure with the family, or insight into cutting-edge botanical research, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden offers an extraordinary experience where natural beauty meets scientific discovery.

About the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums has represented the full scope of the museum field for more than 100 years. AAM is dedicated to supporting museums to enrich lives through experiences that inform, empower, and connect people. To date, roughly 1,100 out of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums have achieved this distinction. Learn more at aam-us.org.