Fell Arboretum

The Fell Arboretum is an arboretum located across the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

Fell Arboretum
A variety of species of trees grace the walk to Fell Hall, seen here in early spring.
LocationIllinois State University
Nearest cityNormal, Illinois
Area490 acres (200 ha)
Created1858
FounderJesse W. Fell

History

Early plans for the arboretum began in 1858 when Jesse W. Fell, founder of Illinois State University, contacted landscape designer William Saunders (botanist). Saunders planned a layout for what would eventually become The Quad for the university's campus.[1]

In 1867, Jesse Fell obtained $3,000 from the state legislature for campus landscaping.[1] Fell planted 1,740 trees on campus that year and 107 trees the following year. An enthusiastic tree planter, Fell wished the campus to contain every tree native to Illinois. In 1995 the campus was formally registered as an arboretum and named in Fell's honor.[2]

The arboretum is an ArbNet Level II accredited arboretum.[3]

Samples

The arboretum contains over 4,000 trees representing over 100 varieties.[3] Each tree is numbered, marked, and mapped. species represented include:

Notes
  1. Freed, John (2009). Educating Illinois: Illinois State University, 1857-2007 (2nd ed.). Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company Publishers. p. 67. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  2. "History". Fell Arboretum. Illinois State University. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  3. "Arbnet | Fell Arboretum". arbnet.org. Retrieved 2023-10-13.

See also

40.5108°N 88.9935°W / 40.5108; -88.9935

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