This year, you don’t have to go on an epic family road trip to see some of America’s most iconic roadside attractions.
You can see everything from South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore to New Jersey’s Lucy the Elephant at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. Well, at least a version of those iconic landmarks.
Since 2004, the U.S. Botanic Garden has teamed up with Paul Busse and his Kentucky-based firm to create models made from plants and other natural materials. This year’s “Season’s Greenings: Roadside Attractions” features 40 different models of attractions from across the country.
“This year’s ‘Roadside Attractions’ really celebrates that there’s all these quirky, fun things across America.”
Devin Dotson
According to the U.S Botanic Garden, the most commonly used plant materials for these models include pine cone scales, willows, cinnamon sticks, grape tendrils and acorn caps.
Beyond the roadside attractions that have model trains circling them, the Botanic Garden also has a collection of 13 different D.C. landmarks ranging from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial.
“It’s a collection we grow every year,” Dotson added.
The most recent addition is a botanical version of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Each of the models that are part of the holiday show will be on display until Jan. 1. After that, Dotson said the U.S. Botanic Garden starts brainstorming for the next year.
You can find out more about each of the iconic landmarks and what the models are made of by clicking here.
Read more stories from Alix Hines on Circa.
Alix Hanson 