A traditional Japanese garden was created for the Presidential Library and Museum established by former President Jimmy Carter.

Preserving the existing grove of mature oak trees on the site, the design takes advantage of the natural slope to create two waterfalls and two streams that cascade into a large pond. In accordance with the traditional symbolism of Japanese gardens, the two waterfalls—one large and one small—represent the President and the First Lady.

As Japanese plants such as cherry trees, Japanese maples, and various groundcover species could be cultivated locally in Atlanta, all plant materials were sourced within the region. Since natural garden stones were not available, blasted stone from a quarry in Macon was used instead. The resulting rugged appearance contributes to the powerful, grand character of the waterfalls, reflecting the scale and spirit of the American landscape.