Mt. Cuba Center is a beautiful botanical garden located just outside Wilmington, DE. In addition to being a destination for visitors, it offers extensive educational opportunities and is a home to important research involving native plants. Additionally, Mt. Cuba Center has made a commitment to preserve more than 500 acres of natural land in Delaware, making it a regional leader in conservation.

As with so many cultural institutions, its old site was outdated, dull, and did little to inspire new visitors to make the trip. After extensive research and information architecture planning, we set out to create a site that was simple to use yet rich with detail. We wanted to take the things that make Mt. Cuba Center the incredible place it is, and bring those to people around the country and the world.

From the first day we walked through the property, we realized the biggest challenge would be translating the sights and sounds from the gardens to the screens. Photography alone wouldn’t do it justice. We worked with our friends at Bonner FX to capture video that we then used to build “walkable” digital tours of every garden and path. Now, before planning their trip, visitors can get a more realistic sense of what it’s like to experience this place in person. And those not so close by can learn about the important work being done there.

In addition to visitation, Mt Cuba’s mission involves teaching people about the importance of conservation and how to practice it at home. To facilitate this, the site includes a wide range of classes–from art and gardening to wellness and more. The team also performs significant research related to native plants and cultivars. The detailed results of these studies are now showcased in a way that allows readers to dig into the specifics of hundreds of plants. With the new site, Mt. Cuba is now able to fully showcase the many learning and research opportunities it supports.