Cylburn Arboretum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Cylburn House and Park District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district

Cylburn Mansion
Location in Baltimore
Location	4915 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, Maryland
Area	207 acres (84 ha)
Built	1863
Architect	George A. Frederick
Architectural style	Renaissance
NRHP reference No.	72001493
Added to NRHP	May 04, 1972

Cylburn Arboretum (pronounced Sill-burn arr-burr-EE-tum) is a beautiful city park in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a special place with an arboretum and lovely gardens. An arboretum is like a living museum for trees and woody plants.

You can find Cylburn Arboretum at 4915 Greenspring Avenue. It is open every day except Mondays, and it's free to visit!

History of Cylburn Arboretum
What You Can See at Cylburn
- Amazing Tree Collections
- Gardens and Greenhouses
Cylburn's Special Recognition
Gallery of Trees at Cylburn Arboretum
See also

History of Cylburn Arboretum

Cylburn Arboretum started as a private estate owned by a businessman named Jesse Tyson. He began building the main house, called Cylburn Mansion, in 1863. The famous architect George A. Frederick, who also designed Baltimore City Hall, created the plans for the house.

The mansion was finally finished in 1888. It is a strong stone building made from a type of rock called gneiss. This stone came from Tyson's own quarries nearby. The house has a special roof style called a mansard roof, a tall tower, and an Italianate cupola.

In 1954, the estate became the Cylburn Wildflower Preserve and Garden Center. Later, in 1982, it was renamed the Cylburn Arboretum Association.

What You Can See at Cylburn

The Cylburn Mansion is not just a historic building. Inside, you can see a wonderful display of watercolor paintings. These paintings show many different kinds of Maryland wildflowers. It's a great way to learn about local plants.

Amazing Tree Collections

Today, the arboretum has a huge collection of trees and woody shrubs. Many of these plants are similar to what the Tyson family originally planted. You can explore different areas with specific types of trees.

Some of the cool collections include:

Azaleas, which have beautiful, colorful flowers.
Bamboo, a fast-growing plant that looks like tall grass.
Beeches, known for their smooth bark.
Boxwoods, often used for hedges.
Chestnuts, which produce tasty nuts.
Conifers, like pine trees, that stay green all year.
Hollies, famous for their bright red berries.
Japanese maples, with their uniquely shaped leaves.
Magnolias, known for their large, fragrant flowers.
Maples, which give us maple syrup.
Maryland oaks, strong native trees.
Viburnum, a shrub with pretty flowers and berries.

Gardens and Greenhouses

Besides the tree collections, Cylburn Arboretum also has many different flower and vegetable gardens. These gardens are lovely places to walk and enjoy nature.

There are also greenhouses at the arboretum. These were designed and built in the 1960s by a company called Lord & Burnham. The greenhouses are used to grow plants for all of Baltimore's city parks. Because they are busy growing plants for the city, these greenhouses are not open to the public.

Cylburn's Special Recognition

Cylburn Arboretum is an important part of the Baltimore National Heritage Area. This means it is recognized for its historical and cultural value to the city. It's a place that helps tell the story of Baltimore.