João Barbosa Rodrigues

"The great park, covered with splendid vegetation, resembled a forest, whose inhabitants, in promiscuity, were not indicated by a plaque, a label, a mere sign that would make them known. Everything very pleasant for the eyes, but, scientifically, deplorable. This was declared by a Government commission before I took office". João Barbosa Rodrigues, 1894.

In 1890, the Botanical Garden was disconnected from the Institute of Agriculture of Rio de Janeiro and began to carry out its real cultural and scientific purpose.

Main Changes

• Reorganization of the plant vivarium and construction of a greenhouse
• Creation of a Carpoteca and Library
• Instalation of a Main Fountain on the Palm Alley
• Change in the course of the "Rio dos Macacos" (Monkey's River) because of the floods.
• Specific classification of cultivated species
• Building, landing and gardening of new areas
• Considerable growth in the live plants collection
• Alleys named after former directors
• Plantation of an arboreto
• First steps towards the organization of a herbarium
• Complete liberation of free visitation; between April 1890 and June 1894, almost 150.000 people visited the park
• Establishment of new internal policy rules for the preservation of the plants

Photo - João Barbosa Rodrigues - BGRJ Files