The Arboretum at Berea College

The Arboretum at Berea College is unique and special in a variety of ways.  The 120 acres that make up the arboretum and campus have trees that were in place to witness the founding of the College in 1855 when Berea became the first college in the south to be both racially integrated and coeducational.  The graceful Willow Oak that watches over the intersection at Historic Boone Tavern is a marvel with an impressive diameter of 58 inches, the largest diameter tree on campus could tell you about the transition from horse and buggy to the automobile.  The magnificent Gingko that sits just outside the Quad and has rained down its marvelous yellow leaves to the amazement of generations of students has seen trailblazers from the fight for Women’s suffrage, through the Civil Rights Movement, to the battle to recognize the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and be a safe harbor for peoples of all faiths.  The most unique aspect of our arboretum would have to be that Berea is a work study college, and this greenspace, a gift from generations of conservationist minded Administration, Faculty, Staff and greater community, has been cared for and is being cared for by our tremendous student labor team.