Illinois State University’s Fell Arboretum was granted status in 1995 and consists of a 490 acre site established with thousands of trees representing over 154 species. Its history is rich with the vision of forefather Jesse Fell who envisioned planting a tree of every kind that would flourish in Central Illinois on our campus.
Today, those involved with the Fell Arboretum work together to carry forward Fell’s vision and strive to preserve and expand the existing campus landscape that serves both as an aesthetic experience for our campus community and visitors as well as a living, learning laboratory.
Fell Arboretum continually strives to exemplify the vision of our forefather Jesse Fell in providing our University community, as well as the communities that surround us with an opportunity to experience a unique and diverse plant collection that is conducive to the studies of botany, horticulture and forestry, in an environmentally sounds and sustainable manner.
The Fell Arboretum is committed to collecting diverse species of trees and other plants integrated with art and architecture on the campus of Illinois State University with the principal goal being to sustain a living laboratory as both an educational resource and an aesthetic experience. We also strive to incorporate and promote environmentally safe and sustainable practices in order to preserve and protect that which has been given to us.
