Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

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This is the official page of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a unit of the National Park Service. and an adjacent recreational area. Shaw in the 1880s.
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Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a National Park Service site located in the north eastern corner of Washington, D.C., and the Maryland state border. Nestled near the banks of the Anacostia River and directly south of the Baltimore Washington Parkway, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens preserves a plethora of rare waterlilies and lotuses in the cultivated ponds near the river. The park also contains the Kenilworth Marsh, the only remaining tidal marsh in Washington, D.C. History:
The land that is now Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens was originally purchased by Civil War veteran Walter B. Feeling homesick, Shaw had wild waterlilies native to his home state of Maine brought and planted in the land. When the flowers Shaw brought thrived in the environment, Shaw brought in more plants and started a commercial attraction under the name W.B. Shaw Lily Ponds in 1912. In 1921, when Shaw died, his daughter, Helen Shaw Fowler, took over the prospering business which was being visited by many dignitaries, including US presidents.[5] Unfortunately, by this time the nearby Anacostia River had become filled with an excess of silt making navigation on the river difficult. The United States Army Corps of Engineers was called in to dredge the river which meant that the gardens were in danger of being destroyed. Helen fought to save the gardens and eventually in 1938, Congress authorized the purchase of the gardens for $15,000 to create the park. Today in the Park:
Today, the park is under the administrative portion of National Capital Parks-East of the National Park Service. The total area of the park is about 700 acres (2.8 km2) large and constitutes the water gardens, Kenilworth Marsh, ballfields, and recreational facilities. The gardens have since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and also designated a Category II Landmark by the Joint Committee on Landmarks of the National Capital. Portions of Kenilworth Marsh have also undergone restoration in 1992-1993 adding 32 acres (130,000 m2) of tidal marsh out of what was mud flats.

11/13/2026

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a.... vulture!

Did you know that the DC/Maryland/Virginia area is home to two types of vultures? Both the Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture can be found here year-round, and we spot these birds daily flying over Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

But how can you tell the difference between these two vultures? The easiest way is by looking at their head and wing color.

Black vultures have dark gray heads, and their plumage is dark with exception to a small white patch near the wing tips. Here at Kenilworth, we refer to this wing coloration as "jazz hands!"

Turkey vultures have red heads, and on the underside of a flying bird, the body and front edge of the wings look darker than the feathers on the trailing edge of the wings. Ranger Tom says, "On a Turkey Vulture the darker plumage makes a T shape. T for Turkey Vulture!"

Image 1: Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture fly together through the sky. Courtesy of Evan Clark.
Image 2: Black Vulture with their "jazz hands" circled. NPS photo Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Image 3: Turkey Vulture with T plumage highlighted. NPS photo Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

11/08/2026

The season of miraculous colors is finally upon us! Autumn foliage paints our horizons with maroons, oranges, and yellows.

Throughout spring and summer, chlorophyll filled leaves display a torrent of green. As that chlorophyll breaks down in the fall, orange and yellow light-absorbing pigments are finally able to shine. All of these light absorbing pigments continue to photosynthesize and generate sugars, which collect in the now walled off leaf. These sugars later produce a fourth red pigment. These colors mingle and are responsible for the diversity of color in Autumn leaves.

There are 3 main pigments responsible for fall colors:
🟠Orange leaves have Carotene. Examples: Sassafras, Sugar Maple
🟡Yellow leaves have Xanthophyll. Examples: Yellow Poplar and Pawpaw
🔴Red leaves have Anthocyanin. Examples: Red Maple and Sweet Gum

Next time you're enjoying the fall colors at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, see how many of these colorful trees you can spot!

Images: NPS/James Sherlock

10/29/2026

Fa-BOO-lous fun awaits you at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Friday AND Saturday 30 & 31 October.

🐈‍⬛ Costumes are encouraged for all events!

On 30 October 1:30-2:30pm, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is hosting a spooky story time here at the gardens in partnership with Deanwood Library. Registration is free and required to attend. https://www.mobilize.us/friendsofkenilworthaquaticgardens/event/1031317/

Both 30 AND 31 October:

🎃Families are invited to participate in a spooky scavenger hunt Junior Ranger Activity. Young explorers can earn a junior ranger badge by exploring the gardens and finding some of our haunting and peculiar natural wonders.

🐦‍⬛Pet owners can show rangers photos of their furry friends following B.A.R.K. Ranger principles to earn a special badge.

👻Our floating lotus leaf ghost tree is officially ready! The tree is located at the front of the ponds near the visitor center. We'd love for you to come by and take your haunting Halloween photos here at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens!

Images: NPS/Gigi Kaestner and Solomon Jeong

10/27/2026

Hello to all, from Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens!

Our Beggartick (Bidens aristosa) blooming season is coming to an end; and despite their slightly unapproachable name, they are a beautiful and bountiful small yellow flower that loves to bask in the sunlight. As a late-season bloom, it provides nectar to bees and other pollinators during the fall after much of the summer flowers have already faded.

Their name comes from how similar the seed looks to a tick, small and black with two little horns. Additionally, they are spiky, which gives them the property to latch onto animals' fur or people’s clothes. Due to this, it is likely that they were called a Beggartick for their seeds sticking to people similar to ticks.

To identify them, they have around 8-10 yellow petals, long green stems with plenty of serrated/edges leaves.

Photos Credit: Courtesy Jenny Glen

10/25/2026

Boo! 👻

Come join our lotus leaf ghosts and have a spooktacular time at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens!

These ghosts were made using lotus leaves that have started to brown and decompose. Some lotus parts, like these leaves, have been selectively cleared by NPS rangers to prevent pond overfilling but the remainder play an integral role in providing nutrients to the pond for the next cycle of lotus flowers. So as a friendly reminder, please don't pick our plants because they're an important part of the ecosystem here.

Halloween fun is just around the corner! We're preparing lotus leaf ghost photo opportunities, Junior Ranger activities, and Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens will be hosting a Spooky Storytime! Check back here Thursday, 29 October, for details. We hope you won't ghost us this Halloween 👻🎃

Images: NPS/ Gigi Kaestner and Solomon Jeong

Video description: ghosts made of plant material pose in front of ponds, on a tree stump, around rangers working, on tree roots, and falling from a tree branch.

10/14/2026

Celebrate fall at Oxon Hill Farm’s Fall Festival!

Join us on October 17 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to discover “The Story of the Soil.”
Learn about the story of Oxon Hill Farm and the different people who called this farm home. From living history to arts and crafts, immerse yourself in our story.

Bring your family and friends—this event is completely free to attend! No registration is required, so come ready to enjoy a day of fun.

For more information and a schedule of events please visit: https://go.nps.gov/fall-festival

NPS Photo/ C.LaBarge

10/06/2026

While exploring Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, have you recently looked at a tree or fence and noticed a climbing vine with colorful fruits?
You might have found the invasive porcelain berry. Porcelain berry, one of the non-edible plants in the grape family, was imported from its native range in Asia as an ornamental plant but quickly escaped cultivation and spread across the US. It is able to climb and shade out trees and shrubs, starving the native species of sunlight and water.

Telling non-fruiting porcelain berry apart from native grape vines can be tricky. One method is to check the color of the pith (inside the stem): White for porcelain berry, brown for grapes.

At Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, our gardeners and resource management team monitor and manage the growth of invasive plants, like the porcelain berry, reducing the threat posed by invasive species.

Photo Credit: NPS/Kie Khovayko

10/02/2026

Please join our team in welcoming Carlos the White-tailed Deer. He has joined us as a part-time park greeter, welcoming visitors to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in the mornings. Carlos says, “After spending a crisp fall day at the gardens, you’ll feel like a million bucks!”
Photo: NPS/Tom Berkheimer

09/23/2026

Now Hiring: Military Engagement Ranger — National Capital Parks–East

National Capital Parks–East is excited to announce a temporary Military Engagement Ranger position (not to exceed 1 year). This announcement closes after the first 50 applicants or on 10/07/2026, whichever comes first.

We’re looking for someone who’s ready to spark meaningful connections between military communities and their National Parks. In this role, you’ll lead creative programs, build strong partnerships with military bases across the DC Metro region, develop outreach and marketing materials, coordinate events across our park sites, and track program data to help grow this important initiative. If you’re passionate about public service, partnership-building, and creating welcoming experiences for military families, this is your chance to make a real impact.

Apply Here:

You will serve as a Park Ranger (Interpretation) (Temporary) for the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. This is a temporary NTE 1 year appointment with the option to extend up to 24 months without further competition. Extension will be subject to funding. Open to the first 50 applicants or u...

09/19/2026

Ahoy me hearties, be ye adrift and lookin’ for something to do? Whether ye be an old salt or a scallywag, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens be a fine place to stretch yer peg leg. Bring yer spyglass and keep a lookout for birds and other beasties!

Address

1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE
Washington D.C., DC
20019

Telephone

+17712081571

Website

http://www.nps.gov/keaq/

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