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Join us in celebrating the foundational contributions of 200 African American women and 20 African American men who, employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938, cleared dense swampland to plant our very first azaleas. Through their unmatched resilience and hard work, a lasting legacy was born that grew into Norfolk Botanical Garden.

WPA Heritage Day is more than a historical look back. It is a vital act of recognition. During the era of racial segregation, the very laborers who poured their sweat into planting the initial 4,000 azaleas, 2,000 rhododendrons, and 100 bushels of daffodils were legally barred from visiting the finished grounds. Today, Norfolk Botanical Garden stands actively committed to being a green sanctuary where everyone belongs.