Memberships and General Giving
Donating to McCrory Gardens Fund for Excellence is a tax-deductible gift that supports our public outreach, research and educational programs.
Another way to support the gardens is by purchasing an annual membership. Membership benefits include:
- Free admission to McCrory Gardens throughout the year (we are OPEN all year round)
- Free or reduced admission at more than 340 participating botanical gardens, arboreta and conservatories throughout North America and the Cayman Islands.
- 10% discount on all purchases at the Education and Visitor Center gift shop
- McCrory Gardens monthly e-newsletter as well as printed newsletter two times per year
- Complimentary tickets to Garden Glow (Mark your calendar: First Saturday in December – January 6th. 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. nightly.)
McCrory Gardens is a botanical garden operated and maintained by the gardens' professional staff under the authority of South Dakota State University. The gardens are funded primarily by donations from the Friends of McCrory Gardens, admission fees, other special gifts and with returns from endowments.
McCrory Gardens has over 25 acres of formal display gardens featuring hundreds of different flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses in harmonious settings to display, educate and further the development of new varieties.
The South Dakota Arboretum comprises 45 acres and is located on the north side of McCrory Gardens. It is home to many species of trees and shrubs that are adapted to South Dakota's harsh climate. In addition we routinely trial new selections of trees and shrubs to test their adaptability to our growing conditions.
McCrory Gardens is named to honor professor S.A. McCrory who headed the SDSU Horticulture Department from 1947-1964. McCrory Gardens started in 1965 with the planting of the first two major garden malls and several large blocks of shrub evaluations. From the beginning, McCrory Gardens was designed to be a display, evaluation and research center.
The McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center was dedicated in 2012 and provides a wonderful welcoming experience for year-round visitors. Educational programs for all ages, weddings and receptions, anniversary parties, business meetings and other special events take place in the facility and surrounding gardens.
Giving a gift to the McCrory Gardens’ Fund for Excellence will help to keep us growing now and in the future. We thank you for your support!