Hayes Arboretum facts for kids

The Hayes Arboretum is a special place in Richmond, Indiana, where you can explore nature. It's like a big outdoor museum for trees and plants! This arboretum covers 330 acres (130 ha) of land. It is open to everyone for free, from Tuesdays to Saturdays, between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. The Stanley W. Hayes Research Foundation takes care of the arboretum. They own a total of 466 acres (189 ha) of land in Wayne County, Indiana.

Discovering Nature at Hayes Arboretum

The Hayes Arboretum is a great place to learn about nature. It's also a protected area for wild plants. Many native plants from Wayne County and the Whitewater Valley area grow here. This area includes 14 counties in both Ohio and Indiana. A study in 2007 found 525 different kinds of plants here!

The arboretum also has a renovated dairy barn from 1833. You can explore several trails, including:

• The Beech-Maple Trail (about 3/4 mile long)
• The Habitat Trail (1 mile long)
• The Springhouse Trail (1/4 mile long)
• The History Trail (1 mile long)

The History of Hayes Arboretum

The arboretum started in June 1915. A man named Stanley Wolcott Hayes began buying land. He wanted to protect the old Beech and Maple forests. He also started planting thousands of native trees. His goal was to make the land look like it did when the first pioneers arrived. Today, his estate is the Hayes Arboretum.

Old Growth Forests and Experiments

• Beech-Maple Forest: Some trees in this forest are up to 450 years old! About 60 acres (240,000 m²) of this very old forest is inside the arboretum.
• Oak-Tulip Experiment: In 1922-23, White Oaks and Tulip trees were planted here. This was an experiment to see how hardwood trees would grow back.
• Mabelle Hayes Fern Garden: This garden has many Dogwood trees. It also features a special fern garden. You can find 20 different kinds of ferns and other spring flowers here. Some ferns stay green all year long.
• Paul C. McClure Native Woody Plant Preserve: This is a protected area for trees, shrubs, and vines. All these plants are native to the Whitewater Valley. It shows how these trees would grow naturally over many years.

Ancient Mounds and Artifacts

The Hayes Arboretum has two ancient mounds on its east side. These mounds were built by the Adena and Hopewell people. They are ancient Native American cultures. From 1965 to 1966, a researcher named James Heilman dug into these mounds. He found many interesting things inside. These included tools, bones, and stone points.

The Geology Collection

The arboretum also has a cool collection of rocks. A former professor from Earlham College, Dan Kinsey, gave his collection in 1968. It includes at least one example of every type of rock found in Indiana.

Hayes Family Museum

There's a small, old gas station that was moved to the arboretum. It has been fixed up and is now a museum. This museum tells the story of the Hayes Family. It also shares information about the Hayes Track Appliance Company.

Nature Center

The arboretum's nature center is inside an old dairy barn from 1833. It has lots of information and displays about trees, local woods, and animals. You can find a room for watching birds here. There's also a live honey bee exhibit. A sensory room lets you touch natural objects and see live specimens. The Nature Center offers many programs about plants and wildlife. You can also find restrooms and a drinking fountain inside.