Arboretum Fact Sheet

THE MORTON ARBORETUM 2011 FACT SHEET

The Morton Arboretum is a World-Renowned Leader in Tree Science and Education, Working to Save and Plant Trees

Scope: The Arboretum ranks among the leading arboretums of the world in size, age, quality of specimens, and programs in Plant Collections, Research, and Education. Established in 1922 by Mr. Joy Morton, founder of the Morton Salt Company and son of J. Sterling Morton (founder of Arbor Day), the Arboretum encompasses 1,700 acres, including 500 acres of plant collections and gardens; and 900 acres of woodlands, prairie, meadows, lakes and streams. The Arboretum is open 365 days a year.

Mission: To collect and study trees, shrubs and other plants from around the world, to display them across naturally beautiful landscapes for people to study and enjoy, and to learn how to grow them in ways that enhance our environment. Our goal is to encourage the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier and more beautiful world.

Staffing: 136 full time, 92 part time, 100 seasonal employees; 1006 volunteers; 19 persons on the Board of Trustees.

Four-Season Destination - Things to Do: Children’s Garden: an award-winning, four-acre interactive garden for nature play and learning.  Maze Garden: one-acre puzzle of hedges. Collections: view and learn about trees and other plants. 16 miles of hiking trails, nine miles of roads for driving or bicycling. Open-air tram rides. Also, we offer guided walks, spring flowers, autumn colors, Arbor Day, concerts, Theatre-Hikes, art shows, Fall Color Festival, Holiday Celebration, Yule Log Hunt, and Husky Heroes.

Programs:

Plant Collections include 190,000 specimens in the collections; 4,200 different types of trees, shrubs and other plants native to 40 countries, which serve as vital resources for scientific study. Plant collection categories include horticultural (landscaping and gardening), geographic (place of origin), scientific (related plant groups), special habitat (modified soils/sites), evaluation groups, and endangered plants.  The world-renowned Schulenberg Prairie is one of the oldest reconstructed prairies in the U.S.

Research: Ten, full-time, staff researchers including Ph.D. scientists, and research associates, conduct pioneering research on tree health, emphasizing roots and soils; tree improvement, testing plant performance under urban stresses; and woodland conservation, protecting natural ecosystems as well as rare and endangered species. The Community Trees program provides expertise and advocacy to 273 communities in northern Illinois. The 34,000-square-foot Research Center includes laboratories and the herbarium’s 188,000 preserved specimens of cultivated and naturally-occurring plants.

Education and Information Services: Offerings range from children/family/school groups through adult programs, certificate programs and a botany program with regional colleges. In 2010, the Arboretum Education Program taught more than 40,000 adults and children, including 32,710 students in our school field trips and youth programs, while outreach efforts extend to 450 schools.

Attendance: In 2010, attendance reached 831,436, making the Arboretum the fourth most-visited public garden in the United States. Membership was 35,034.

Nonprofit: A 501(c)3 charitable organization, the arboretum is a private, nonprofit, philanthropic organization. Its $23.4 million annual budget is supported by revenue from visitor programs and services, membership, tuition, and admissions; charitable contributions, and an endowment.

Grounds: Open 365 days each year, containing nine miles of roads and 16 miles of walking trails. Visitors are invited to experience the many joys of our grounds, but we do need them to keep pets, alcohol, and tobacco at home; refrain from sledding, swimming, or fishing; and keep picnics in designated areas. Also, as our trees are prized museum pieces, we ask visitors to look only, and do not climb.

Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset. Visitor Center: 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. Jan.-Feb.; 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. Mar.-Apr. and Nov.-Dec.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May-Oct. 630-968-0074, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Arboretum Store: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan.-Feb.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mar.-Apr. and Nov.-Dec.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May-Oct. 630-719-2454. Ginkgo Restaurant: Daily 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday breakfast 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Ginkgo Café: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan.-Feb.; 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. Mar.-Apr. and Nov.-Dec.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May-Oct.

Admission Fees: $11/Adult, $10/Senior, $8/Child (2-17), Under 2 free. Wednesday pricing- $7/Adult, $6/Senior, $5/Child. Free Parking. Arboretum members admitted free of charge.

Visitor Stations: The Big Rock and Schulenberg Prairie visitor stations offer shelter and washroom facilities as well as interpretation and orientation for adjacent trails and landscapes.

Children’s Garden: An award-winning, 4-acre interactive, educational and fun garden where families can learn about nature. Open 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (March-October) and 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (November-February); open until 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays (May-September).

Facilities Rental: Facilities in Visitor Center and Thornhill Education Center available to rent – 630-719-2190. For Children’s Garden reservations 630-725-2038.

Group Tours: Special admission, tour packages and lunch options are available with a minimum of two weeks advance booking for groups of 12 or more – 630-719-5700 (School groups – call 630-719-2468); This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Plant Clinic: Diagnoses trees’ and other plants’ ailments, and aids in tree selection, at no charge. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April-October; Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. November-March. 630-719-2424, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sterling Morton Library: More than 28,000 volumes in the circulating and reference collections; 4,000 rare books; 220 current periodicals along with hundreds of no longer active journal titles; over 1,500 current and historic nursery catalogs; 12,000 artworks (15th-21st centuries); papers and photographs relating to the Arboretum's founder, Joy Morton, and history of The Morton Arboretum; over 1,500 landscape drawings by Jens Jensen, Marshall Johnson, and O.C. Simonds; in addition to 10,000 photographs and slides. Exhibits display rare books and prints. Members have borrowing privileges. Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - 630-719-2429, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thornhill Education Center: Class information and registration – 630-719-2468; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Development Office: For corporate and individual gifts – 630-725-2027

Volunteers: Those wishing to volunteer their time to assisting in Arboretum programs, activities, events and research can contact the Volunteer Office – 630-719-2443; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Membership: Benefits include free entry to grounds, discounted class fees and store purchases, Arboretum publications and invitations to member-only events. Several levels of membership are available, from $65 for Individual, $100 for Family, $135 for Family Plus, $250 for Friend, $500 for Partner and $1,000 for Thornhill Society – 630-719-2453; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Contact Information:

Main Phone: 630-968-0074
Fax: 630-719-7956
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
24-Hour Information: 630-719-2400
Special Events Tickets: 630-725-2066
Bloom ‘n Color hotline (spring and fall only): 630-719-7955