Year of History

The Dawes Arboretum will officially celebrate its 100th anniversary on June 5, 2029. Every year until then, we'll be celebrating with an annual theme. 2026 is the Year of History. 

Whether it's our History Team dropping never-seen-before photographs to the Digital Archive, our Landscape and Operations Team planting flowers in the shape of an American flag or merchandise in our gift shop, we're celebrating history all around The Arboretum this year. Learn more about how you can be involved below!

P.S. Have you seen our new centennial logo around? Are you curious what the different colors mean? You can learn more about the logo here. 

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Dawes Homecoming Community Picnic

Did you know that Beman Dawes hosted picnics each year at The Arboretum for his employees and their families? Join us on Sunday, July 12, from 4 - 7 p.m. for the Dawes Homecoming Community Picnic! Admission will be free all day!

Bring your own picnic and blanket. We'll celebrate the summer afternoon by providing free drinks and Velvet Ice Cream (while supplies last). Enjoy live music and games on the lawn. Grills and alcohol are no permitted on The Arboretum's grounds.

Fueling a Legacy: The Pure Oil Company & Beman Dawes

Petrolianas and history buffs alike will be thrilled to visit The Arboretum this year for its 2026 History Center exhibit: Fueling a Legacy: The Pure Oil Company and Beman Dawes.

It focuses on the history of The Pure Oil Company, its local impact and how Beman's funds from The Pure Oil Company were used to create and sustain The Dawes Arboretum, a now nearly 2,000-acre property. 

Do you have a story you'd like to share, or a donation you'd like to make about your experience with Pure Oil? Leave us a message by calling or emailing.

Call: 740-522-7800

Email: dawespureoilstories@dawesarb.org

The Archive & America 250

Did you know it's America's and Ohio's 250th anniversary? Each month, the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semi quincentennial (America 250) has chosen a different theme each month to highlight and celebrate Ohio’s rich history.

 

Each month, The Arboretum's History Team will be dropping a new collection to our archives that align with America's and Ohio's 250th anniversary monthly theme! Click below to read a blog about one of the drops.

This is a photo of a Pure Oil station. It is a balck and white station with the Pure Oil sign out in front of it. Trees are behind the station.
Large groups of people sit in front of a large white canopy, an auditorium, outside on The Arboretum's grounds. People are sitting on chairs and in blankets listening to music. Trees dot the background.
Groups of people sit in a wagon with a range and white top in front of The Arboretum's Visitors Center.
A fair-skinned woman wearing a black dress, white pearls and gloves and a hit stands with a shovel next to a tree.
This is a black-and-white photo of the stone bridge at the Japanese Garden with trees and grass surrounding it.
This is a black-and white photo of John Glenn, an astronaut. He's wearing a space suit and holding a helmet.