National Bonsai Foundation’s 25th Anniversary

NBF celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2007 as the support organization for the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum within the US National Arboretum in Washington, DC. During the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration, the people of Japan gifted the citizens of the USA with a superb collection of bonsai trees.  

When the bonsai trees came to the Potomac Bonsai Association, the lead agency of bonsai clubs around DC, volunteers worked with the staff of the US National Arboretum to maintain the bonsai trees in immaculate condition. The Bonsai Museum developed from there. Volunteers and students of Bonsai Master Yuji Yoshimura organized the National Bonsai Committee and the Museum was opened in 1976.

Today, there are two additional wings dedicated to Master Yoshimura and Master John Y. Naka. A beautiful Courtyard Project was begun in 2001 in order to make the inner courtyard of the Museum more accessible to all by replacing gravel walkways and updating the courtyard to accommodate all forms of individual mobility.