Join us to hear the stories of how the philanthropy of Benjamin Bussey and James Arnold created and shaped the Arnold Arboretum, leaving a legacy of precious open space for the City of Boston and all to enjoy.
This half-mile Introductory Tour features stories about the Arboretum’s history, mission, and research endeavors. If you’re at the Arboretum, click here to take a version of this tour with Expeditions, our mobile web app.
Take a walk with Michael Dosmann, the Keeper of the Arboretum’s living collections. Take this tour online or while visiting the Arboretum in person.
Experience the Arnold Arboretum’s world-class living collections from Director Ned Friedman’s perspective. Take this tour online or while visiting the Arboretum in person.
Walk with Landscape Architect Rosetta S. Elkin and Arboretum Archivist Lisa E. Pearson.
Nearly a century and a half old, this Kentucky coffeetree was one of the first plants grown from seed at the Arnold Arboretum. It was collected in Virginia by an amateur botanist named Allen Curtiss.
A botanist at the Arnold Arboretum officially named and described the seven son flower in 1916. But the species would not be grown in the United States until 1980. This plant was among the first.
Everyone here is so passionate about plants and how we can share that passion with the world. The impact of green spaces on mental and physical health is invaluable, and it is an honor to be part of an institution that has been committed to that mission for so long.
Working in the Arnold Arboretum means I am immersed in a living museum of biodiversity and inspired every day to pursue my research. Because the Arboretum offers such a popular public good to people both near and far, being based here means that I also have an incredible outlet to share my passion for biodiversity.
Every tour brings a surprise, even after 36 years! It might be the sun catching the “Ruby Glow” witch hazel in February or the smell of toasted marshmallows from trodden katsura leaves in the fall. A squirrel running up a visitor’s trouser leg was perhaps the biggest surprise of them all.
What’s not to love? The ever-changing landscape and the opportunity to learn new things every day from passionate and caring people are the two most extraordinary aspects of the Arboretum.
This Place nourishes the Soul as well as the Body. I returned for my health and rediscovered such beauty openly observed and freely given by all who crossed my path. This Palace of the Senses allowed me to create The Path Taken. Maybe my Exhibit can serve as a remainder of days passed, soon to return.
The community spirit at the Arboretum is truly palpable. From my first exposure as an Aggie intern in 2014, to being a full-time Gardener now, this has only grown. The folks who work here truly care about the Arboretum’s mission—and maybe even more so—about their colleagues.
Any walk or bike ride through the landscape is physically and spiritually restorative, all year round. I love teaching horticultural interns and students about our archives, Harvard’s shared online resources, and the importance of diversity and equal opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
