The Dawes Arboretum is a nonprofit arboretum located in Newark, Ohio. It includes nearly 2,000 acres of plant collections, gardens and natural areas. The site includes approximately 12 miles of hiking trails and roadways for a four-mile driving tour.
The Dawes Arboretum was established in 1929 by Beman Dawes and his wife, Bertie. The idea for an arboretum came to Beman during his youth in Marietta, Ohio, where his father’s lumber business supported the family.
Beman and Bertie:
Beman Dawes
(1870 – 1953)
Born and raised in Marietta, Ohio, Beman was the third of six children of Rufus R. Dawes and Mary Gates Dawes. He was named after his grandfather Beman Gates. Beman Dawes’ father was a Civil War Brigadier General who served with the “Iron Brigade” and operated a lumber business in Marietta.
Beman studied trees throughout his life. Mr. Dawes was a leader in the gas and petroleum industry in central Ohio. In 1914, he was the founding president of The Ohio Cities Gas Company that later became The Pure Oil Company, known for its blue and white English style cottage gas stations.
Beman served two terms in Congress representing the 15th Congressional District of Ohio from 1905-1909. His oldest brother, Charles, was Vice President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge from 1925 – 1929.
Bertie Burr
(1872 – 1958)
She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Bertie’s father served as Mayor of Lincoln and as State Senator.
On October 3, 1894, Bertie Burr married Beman G. Dawes in Lincoln. Together, the couple raised five children who later became founding Trustees of The Dawes Arboretum.
Bertie Dawes was a self-taught naturalist who enjoyed gardening, fishing, shell and butterfly collecting, bird watching and photography.
Trees, Trees and More Trees:
It was Beman Dawes’ aim to inspire people to plant trees. He planted trees at Daweswood, He obtained specimens from all over the world that would thrive in central Ohio. The first planned tree planting began in 1917 with 50 sugar maples.
By the time The Dawes Arboretum was founded in 1929, over 50,000 trees had been planted and the grounds had doubled in size to 293 acres.
Beman and Bertie Dawes created The Arboretum as a private foundation: “To encourage the planting of forest and ornamental trees… to give pleasure to the public and education to the youth.”
The Dawes Arboretum's collections include over 5300 different types of plants with more than 15,400 plants on grounds.
To ensure the continuation of The Arboretum, Beman and Bertie Dawes established an endowment fund. The endowment continues to be one of the major sources of funds for The Dawes Arboretum.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Daweswood House Museum:
The Daweswood House Museum was originally the home of the John Brumback family. John, a pioneer blacksmith and farmer, designed and financed the construction of the brick farmhouse in 1867.
In 1918, Beman Dawes purchased 140 acres of the old Brumback farm in Licking Township. The farm, known as “Woodland,” offered gently rolling hills and several acres of mature trees native to central Ohio. Beman felt that the farm was well situated; it was located practically in the center of the state with diversified soils and good climate for hardy trees.
The family renamed the farm “Daweswood” and the brick, half-century-old farmhouse became their country home. Daweswood was a retreat from the family’s East Broad Street residence in Columbus.
The Dawes family moved onto the Brumback farm. The 50-year-old brick farmhouse that became their country home. In the late 1920s, modernization and structural changes were made to fit the family’s needs.
Today, ten rooms of the Daweswood House Museum display 19th and 20th century antiques and memorabilia that reflect the lifestyle and collecting interests of the Dawes family.
Dawes Arboretum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Around 270,000 visitors a year come to the park.
Tours:
Guided tours run 45 minutes.
Daweswood House Museum tours will be available May 3 through October 29. Tours will be offered Wednesday through Sunday at 12pm and 2pm and will run on time. Tours will begin on the front porch of the Daweswood House Museum.
Registration is required.
Address and Directions:
7770 Jacksontown Rd., SE, Newark, OH 43056
Phone: 740-323-2355
From the North:
Take Interstate 71 south to exit #169, State Route 13. Travel St. Rt. 13 south approximately 50 miles to downtown Newark. Continue following St. Rt. 13 south for an additional 6 miles. The entrance of The Dawes Arboretum is on the right.
From the South:
Follow State Route 13 north 3 miles north of Interstate 70. The entrance to The Dawes Arboretum is on the left.
From the East:
Take Interstate 70 west to exit #132, State Route 13 (approximately 20 miles west of Zanesville). Travel north on St. Rt. 13 for 3 miles. The entrance to The Dawes Arboretum is on the left.
From the West:
Take Interstate 70 east to exit #132, State Route 13 (approximately 30 miles east of Columbus). Travel north on St. Rt. 13 for 3 miles. The entrance to The Dawes Arboretum is on the left.
Admission and Hours:
As of 2019 there is an admission fee which allows The Dawes Arboretum to continue to provide events and research scientific tree studies.
Adult $10.00
Child $5.00
Child Under 5 $0.00
DAILY HOURS APRIL - SEPTEMBER:
Sunday through Thursday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
DAILY HOURS OCTOBER:
Daily: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
DAILY HOURS NOVEMBER - MARCH:
Daily: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
CLOSED:
Thanksgiving
Christmas
New Year's Day
After 1pm Christmas Eve
After 1pm New Years' Eve
ADMISSION IS FREE FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY ON VETERANS' DAY
Membership With
The Dawes Arboretum:
Individual
$30 per year
Individual membership benefits for one member.
Duo
$50 per year
Enjoy The Arboretum with two named members.
Family Membership
$80 per year
Individual membership benefits for up to six family members, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and/or nanny.
Family Plus
$125 per year
Individual membership benefits for up to eight family members, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and/or nanny.
Check out the website below for details:
THE VISITORS CENTER:
At the Visitors Center, you can get information, view current brochures, find restrooms and more.
The gift shop, located in the Visitors Center, offers snacks and unique nature-themed gifts.
Our Discovery Center is located in the lower level of the Visitors Center. It is a fun learning experience for the whole family,
The Visitors Center is currently open Sunday through Thursday, 9am - 7pm and Friday and Saturday, 9am - 8pm.
Hiking Trails:
The Dawes Arboretum in Newark, Ohio, offers a variety of hiking trails that showcase its beautiful landscapes and diverse plant collections. Here’s a general overview of the trails:
- Daweswood Trail:
- Length: Approximately 1.5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Features a scenic route through woodlands and gardens.
- Wildflower Trail:
- Length: About 1 mile
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Ideal for observing native wildflowers, especially in spring.
- Lake Trail:
- Length: Around 1 mile
- Difficulty: Easy
- Offers views of the lake and surrounding areas, great for a leisurely walk.
- Pine Grove Trail:
- Length: Roughly 0.5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- A short trail winding through a grove of pine trees.
- Additional Trails: The Arboretum also has various smaller loops and paths, each varying in length and difficulty, perfect for different hiking preferences.
Most trails are well-maintained and accessible, making them suitable for families and casual hikers. Always check the current trail conditions and maps at the visitor center before heading out!
Personal Experience:
We have been to the Dawes Arboretum numerous times. The trails are easy to navigate and the scenery is beautiful. If we planned to go a bunch of times in a year, we would opt for a membership. The admission used to be free, but I do understand the financial constraints of a public garden. It is worth the admission.
If you have an opportunity to check it out, please do so! You won't be sorry!
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us!
