The Garden History & Design Committee uses photography and research, the study of good design practices, educational and lecture programs, historic preservation awards, and scholarships to develop an appreciation of America’s significant gardens. 

Garden History and Design is encouraged to document cultivated gardens throughout the local area to be submitted to GCA for consideration to the Archives of American Garden in the Smithsonian Institution.  The Smithsonian Institution Collection numbers more than 60,000 images.

GCA garden clubs also work to identify AAG’s “Mystery Gardens,” garden records lacking basic information, such as owner or location, that would identify them. Without this fundamental data, these images lose much of their informational value.