About Us

Chatham Hall Arboretum

Welcome to Our Arboretum!

Established in 2024, the Chatham Hall Arboretum is the peaceful front lawn to our campus. In addition to protecting the School’s natural heritage, we offer an experience of discovery and admiration.

Serving as an outdoor sanctuary for community residents or those just passing by, visitors can fully engage in the majesty of our landscape and location through a themed experience. Our self-guided tour will introduce you to saplings and centurions, characterized by a famous quote and each with a story to tell. You’ll learn about the preferred habitat of our trees, their distinctive features, and easily identifiable markings.

Along the way, we hope you’ll take time to participate in the interpretive stations designed to cultivate appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of our trees and the natural world.

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Chatham Hall Arboretum Mission Statement

The Chatham Hall Arboretum celebrates nature as a sacred place on campus, instilling a sense of stewardship for our trees and tree canopy, and inspiring a sense of awe and wonder for the natural world.

Visiting the Arboretum

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Visitor Guidelines
The Chatham Hall Arboretum is open to the public year-round within the School's operating hours, which are typically 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Exceptions may apply during holiday and event closures.

When visiting the arboretum, please:
- Do not climb the trees
- Do not hang hammocks in trees
- Do not enter buildings unless authorized and supervised by School personnel
- Take only pictures, leave only footprints
Getting Around
The walking tour begins at Pruden Hall with parking available on the main road and in the parking lot located behind Yardley Dining Hall. You will be traversing terrain that includes grassy areas and paved paths. Slopes are suitable for pleasant walking of most mobility levels.
Featured Tree Species

American Beech - Fagus grandifolia
American Elm - Ulmus americana New Harmony
American Holly - Ilex opaca
Basswood - Tilia americana
Blackgum - Nyssa sylvatica
Chestnut Oak - Quercus montana
Eastern Red Cedar - Juniperus virginiana
Flowering Dogwood - Cornus Florida
Japanese Maple - Acer palmatumment
Japanese Zelkova - Zelkova serrata Green Vase
Kousa Dogwood - Cornus kousa
Lacebark Elm - Ulmus parvifolia
Maidenhair Tree - Ginkgo biloba
Persimmon - Diospyros virginiana
Pin Oak - Quercus palustris
Post Oak - Quercus stellata
Red Maple - Acer rubrum
Redbud - Cercis canadensis
Saucer Magnolia - Magnolia soulangeana
Shagbark Hickory - Carya ovata
Shortleaf Pine - Pinus echinata
Southern Red Oak - Quercus falcata
Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum
Swamp White Oak - Quercus bicolor
Sweetgum - Liquidambar styraciflua
Tulip Poplar - Liriodendron tulipifera
White Oak - Quercus alba
History

The Chatham Hall Arboretum was founded and accredited by ArbNet in 2024 after months of hard work by members across every level of the School. You can learn more about the Chatham Hall Arboretum here.

The Chatham Hall Arboretum logo was designed in commemoration of the Big Oak that stood for decades in the Meadow before it fell in 2013. The Big Oak had an extraordinary tree canopy and was cherished by generations of students, faculty, and staff. Thus, the logo is a reminder of both longevity and transience. A new oak tree sapling is currently growing in its place.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to everyone who contributed to the creation of the Chatham Hall Arboretum, including members of the Global Entrepreneurship program, Arboretum Task Force, Board of the Trustees, Wolf Josey Landscape Architects, our generous donors, and many other Chatham Hall faculty, staff, and community members.

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Supporting the Arboretum

The Chatham Hall Arboretum is free to visit, but not to maintain. We hope you’ll consider a donation to contribute to its maintenance. Please use our online giving form and mention the arboretum under “Other” designation.

Thank you for visiting the Chatham Hall Arboretum! We hope you'll join us on campus again soon. If you'd like to provide feedback about your experience, please email communications@chathamhall.org.