Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and Arboretum

This article is about the park in Nebraska City. For other uses, see Arbor Lodge (disambiguation).

Arbor Lodge State Historical Park
Map showing the location of Arbor Lodge State Historical Park
Map showing the location of Arbor Lodge State Historical Park
Location in Nebraska
LocationNebraska City, Nebraska, United States
Coordinates40°40′53″N 95°52′49″W / 40.68139°N 95.88028°W / 40.68139; -95.88028[1]
Area73.85 acres (29.89 ha)[2]
Elevation1,066 ft (325 m)[1]
Established1923
AdministratorArbor Day Foundation
WebsiteSmith Falls State Park
Arbor Lodge
The front of Arbor Lodge.
Location2600 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, Nebraska
Area72 acres (29 ha)
Built1855 (1855)
ArchitectHouse: Jarvis Hunt
Grounds: Frederick Law Olmsted
Architectural styleColonial Revival
NRHP reference No.69000135
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 16, 1969[3]
Designated NHLMay 15, 1975[4]

Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and Arboretum is a mansion and arboretum located at 2600 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States.[5] The park is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1969.[3]

The 52-room neo-colonial house began in 1855 for J. Sterling Morton, originator of Arbor Day and Secretary of Agriculture in the 1890s under President Grover Cleveland. The house was originally a modest 4-room frame structure on 160 acres (65 ha). It was extended several times, most recently in 1903, and in later years served as the summer home for his son Joy Morton, founder of Morton Salt Company. The mansion features Victorian and Empire furnishings, many of which were owned by the Mortons. Its sun parlor contains a fine Tiffany skylight with grape trellis design.

Trees were a central interest of J. Sterling Morton. He imported trees from all over the country in order to test their suitability to create windbreaks and otherwise break up the monotony of the great plains. The house is surrounded by 270 varieties of trees and shrubs, including gardens, apple orchards, and acres of oaks, maples, chestnuts, and pines, including at least 10 state-champion trees. Specimen trees are typically labeled with engraved bronze plates. Over the years, many of Arbor Lodge's apple orchards were demolished, but in the 1990s their restoration began with plantings of winesaps, golden delicious, red delicious, jonathans, and jonadels.

  • The Tiffany skylight in the sun parlor.
    The Tiffany skylight in the sun parlor.
  • Pathway in the rose garden on the south side of the mansion.
    Pathway in the rose garden on the south side of the mansion.
  1. ^ a b "Arbor Lodge State Historical Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
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