The Dawes Arboretum is proud to announce that its exhibit, Dedicated: Arboretum Staff, has been selected for an Outstanding Achievement Award in the category of Exhibits or Displays by the Ohio Local History Alliance (OLHA).
The Ohio Local History Alliance is a statewide organization dedicated to supporting local history organizations and professionals. OLHA provides resources, education, and networking opportunities for its members while also promoting the importance of preserving and interpreting local history.
This prestigious award recognizes the exceptional quality and historical significance of Dedicated: Arboretum Staff, which featured the never before explored history of the staff who helped cultivate the beautiful gardens, natural areas and towering trees that dot The Arboretum’s nearly 100-year landscape.
“I was shocked that this topic had never been researched before,” said Leslie Wagner, historian at The Arboretum. “It was amazing to see the staff in the present day connect with staff of the past to see how we’ve grown since then.”
During the development of Dedicated: Arboretum Staff, history volunteers and a former AmeriCorps member, Garrett Moyer, dedicated over two years of attention to make the exhibit as insightful as it was. It included intense research, oral histories with descendants of arboretum staff and a clothing loan from the Western Reserve Historical Society.
The final result reflects both The Dawes Arboretum’s mission of enriching lives through the conservation of trees, nature and history.
The Outstanding Achievement Award will be formally presented to Leslie Wagner at the OLHA Regional Meeting in Gahanna on March 21, 2026.
Until then, visitors are encouraged to visit the exhibit virtually. Dedicated: Arboretum Staff is available online here: (LINK).