Morton Arboretum

Morton Arboretum is a major public garden and outdoor museum located in Lisle, Illinois, dedicated to the study and display of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. Founded in 1922 by Joy Morton, founder of the Morton Salt Company and son of Julius Sterling Morton, the originator of Arbor Day, its mission encompasses scientific research, conservation, and public education. Encompassing over 1,700 acres, the site features extensive collections, natural woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, attracting more than one million visitors annually for recreation, learning, and inspiration.

History

The arboretum was established on the former estate of Joy Morton, who was deeply influenced by his father's passion for trees and the broader Conservation movement of the early 20th century. The original 735 acres of the Morton family's Thornhill Estate formed the core of the institution, with its first plantings guided by the landscape design principles of Ossian Cole Simonds and the early directorship of Charles Sprague Sargent of the Arnold Arboretum. Key early developments included the construction of the iconic Thornhill Education Center and the establishment of a research program under the first director, Clarence E. Godshalk. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded through numerous land acquisitions, including the addition of the East Woods and significant prairie restorations, solidifying its role as a preeminent center for dendrology and horticulture in the Midwestern United States.

Collections and gardens

The living collections include over 4,100 different types of plants, with a particular focus on hardy species for the USDA hardiness zone 5b climate. Major taxonomic collections feature renowned holdings of oaks, maples, lindens, crabapples, and conifers from across North America, Europe, and Asia. Thematic gardens include the four-acre Maze Garden, the Children's Garden, the Sunshine Garden, and the Ground Cover Garden. Notable landscape features are the one-mile Meadow Lake, the restored Big Rock visitor area, and extensive trails winding through the Sterling Morton Library, the Visitor Center, and various sculptures, including works by contemporary artists like Daniel Popper.

Research and conservation

Scientific work is conducted through the Center for Tree Science, which collaborates with institutions like the United States Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Research focuses on urban forestry, tree breeding, plant pathology (including threats from the emerald ash borer and oak wilt), seed banking, and ecosystem restoration. The arboretum maintains an active herbarium with over 200,000 specimens and leads regional conservation initiatives, such as the Chicago Region Trees Initiative, aimed at improving the health of the urban forest canopy across the Chicago metropolitan area.

Education and public programs

Educational offerings are extensive, serving everyone from schoolchildren to professional arborists through the Arbor Day Foundation and other partnerships. The arboretum provides accredited classes, certificates, and degrees in partnership with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of DuPage. Public programs include guided tram tours, seasonal festivals like the Illinois Solar Eclipse viewing event and the winter Illumination: Tree Lights display, expert-led workshops on topics from birdwatching to landscape design, and citizen science projects that engage the community in data collection.

Visitor information

Open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, the arboretum is accessible via the East-West Tollway (I-88) and is near the Metra BNSF Railway Line. Admission fees apply, with discounts for residents of Lisle and members of reciprocal networks like the American Horticultural Society. Amenities include the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café, a gift shop, rental facilities for private events at the Founder's Room, and over 16 miles of paved and natural surface trails suitable for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. The entire grounds are a designated Illinois Nature Preserve.

Category:Arboreta in Illinois Category:Museums in DuPage County, Illinois Category:1922 establishments in Illinois