The grounds include the 'Thornhill' estate, which was the original home of Joy Morton, the founder of the Morton Salt Company.
The Arboretum maintains a dedicated herbarium containing over 170,000 preserved plant specimens for research.
The site hosts one of the largest collections of oaks in North America, serving as a primary site for the Global Oak Conservation Strategy.
The Children’s Garden was designed specifically to facilitate 'nature deficit disorder' recovery through tactile engagement with soil, water, and plants.
It operates a specialized laboratory for studying tree pathology and soil science to combat invasive pests like the emerald ash borer.
The Arboretum’s library houses a collection of rare botanical books, including volumes dating back to the 17th century.
The Morton Arboretum is a 1,700-acre living museum dedicated to the collection, study, and display of trees from around the world. Founded by Joy Morton in 1922, the site serves as an international center for tree research and plant conservation. The grounds feature 16 miles of paved hiking trails and 9 miles of wood-chipped trails through diverse ecosystems, including prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. It houses an extensive collection of over 222,000 live plants and trees representing thousands of species. The landscape incorporates large-scale outdoor art installations that rotate periodically throughout the grounds. Specialized features include the Children’s Garden, which emphasizes interactive nature play, and the Maze Garden. The Arboretum is accredited as a level IV arboretum, the highest level awarded by ArbNet. It functions as a scientific institution focusing on global tree diversity and climate resilience.
The Conifer Garden, particularly during winter snow, or the wooden boardwalks traversing the Meadow Lake wetlands.
Wear sturdy walking shoes, as the paved paths cover long distances and the wood-chip trails can be uneven.
Download the digital map or pick up a physical copy at the visitor center, as the sheer size makes navigation difficult for first-time visitors.
Bring a refillable water bottle, as the trail network is extensive and infrastructure is concentrated near the main visitor center.
Attempting to walk the entire 1,700-acre grounds in a single day, which leads to fatigue; prioritize specific collections or geographic areas instead.
Open daily year-round, except for closures on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Stay on marked trails to protect sensitive root systems and rare plant collections; pets must remain leashed and are restricted from certain areas.
