The Kampong!

What Is the Kampong?

The Kampong is one of five units in the National Tropical Botanical Garden and the only one in the continental USA!

What Makes It Historical?

In 1926, Dr. David Fairchild and his wife, Marian, built a home on the land formerly owned by Dr. Eleanor and Captain Albion Simmons and called it the Kampong! They’d first heard this word on their travels in Indonesia, and it described a family “compound,” which is how they envisioned their estate! Dr. Fairchild was a botanist and explorer who introduced a whole slew of exotic plants into American agriculture, such as soybeans, mangoes, bamboo, and avocados! He also introduced cotton to the southwestern US, in places like St. George! All in all, while managing the Department of Agriculture’s plant introduction program, he introduced more than 30,000 plant species and varietals to the USA!

At first, this was a winter home for the Fairchilds, then their permanent home starting in 1928, and they turned it into a showcase of plants brought back from their world travels! In 1955, botanist Catherine Sweeney bought the estate, kept it for 29 years, then donated it to what is now the National Tropical Botanical Garden in 1984! Today, folks can see plenty of exotic plants on display, including baobab, ylang-ylang, and miracle fruit, which causes sour foods to taste sweet!

How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?

Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
Become a member of the National Tropical Botanical Garden!
Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!