The First Arbor Day

Mimosa Tree,
Theodor Horydczak, photographer, circa 1920-1950.
Washington as It Was, 1923-1959

Pine Tree,
Theodor Horydczak, photographer, circa 1920-1950.
Washington as It Was, 1923-1959

Nebraskans planted more than a million trees on April 10, 1872, in celebration of the first Arbor Day. The occasion fulfilled the dream of Julius Sterling Morton, a newspaper editor and former governor of the Nebraska Territory. Morton, an ardent proponent of forestation, lobbied for years for a holiday to encourage the planting of trees. In 1885, thirteen years after Arbor Day was first celebrated, Nebraskans changed the date to April 22 in honor of Morton's birthday. Arbor Day is now officially celebrated worldwide on the last Friday in April.

By 1907, Arbor Day was observed in every state in the Union, principally through school programs. Schoolchildren were urged, through these celebrations, to consider the planting of a tree as a patriotic, even pious, act, as well as a sound investment and a contribution to community aesthetics.

The Washington Elm, Cambridge, Massachusetts, circa 1899.
Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920

Under this tree General George Washington first took command of the American army on July 3, 1775.

Arbor Day Leaves, published circa 1893 and featured in Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920, provides a brief history of Arbor Day, an overview of Arbor Day observances, and a sample Arbor Day program typical of those performed in schools throughout the country.

• Search on tree, elm, oak, willow, birch, palm, pine, maple and other names of trees in Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920 and Washington as It Was, 1923-1959 to see more pictures of trees in America.
• To learn about other important events in the movement to conserve and protect America's natural heritage, see the chronology in Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920. For additional resources, view the Collection Connections feature of the Learning Page which concerns that collection.
• Also, don't miss the Today in History features on Bird Day, May 4, and Earth Day, April 22.

"'Only God Can Make a Tree',"
Stanley Clough, artist, Ohio, 1938.
Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943

"Plains Farms Need Trees,"
Joseph Dusek, artist, Chicago, Illinois, between 1936 and 1940.
Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943

"Spare Our Trees,"
Stanley Clough, artist, Ohio, 1938.
Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943