Hayes Arboretum facts for kids

The Hayes Arboretum is a fantastic nature spot covering 330 acres in Richmond, Indiana, USA. It's like a giant outdoor classroom and a special place to protect nature. You can visit the main entrance for free from Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There's also an east entrance that's open every day from sunrise to sunset, perfect for hiking and mountain biking! This amazing place is managed by the Stanley W. Hayes Research Foundation, which owns a total of 466 acres in Wayne County, Indiana.

Discovering Hayes Arboretum

The Arboretum is a unique place for learning and a protected home for nature. It collects wild plants that naturally grow in Wayne County and the Whitewater Valley area. While it once thought to have 172 plant species, a study in 2007 actually found an incredible 525 different kinds of plants!

You can explore many cool features here, including:

• A beautifully restored dairy barn from 1833.
• The Beech-Maple Trail, which is about 3/4 of a mile long.
• The Habitat Trail, stretching for 1 mile.
• The Springhouse Trail, a shorter 1/4 mile path.
• The History Trail, also 1 mile long.

The Vision of Stanley Hayes

The Arboretum first started in June 1915. A man named Stanley Wolcott Hayes began buying land to save the old Beech and Maple forests. He wanted to bring the land back to how it looked when the first pioneers arrived. He planted thousands of native trees and set up special areas to study how they grew. His property is now what we know as Hayes Arboretum.

Exploring Nature's Wonders

The Hayes Arboretum is home to several special areas:

• Beech-Maple Forest: This forest has trees that are up to 450 years old! About 60 acres of this ancient forest are protected here.
• Oak-Tulip Experiment: In 1922–23, White Oaks and Tulip trees were planted here. This was an early experiment to see how hardwood trees could be replanted and grow.
• Mabelle Hayes Fern Garden: This garden is full of ferns and other plants that grow naturally in the Whitewater River valley. You'll see 20 different fern species and many beautiful spring flowers. Some ferns stay green all year!
• Paul C. McClure Native Woody Plant Preserve: This is a special nature reserve where trees, shrubs, and vines native to the Whitewater Valley grow freely. It shows how these plants would develop over hundreds of years with plenty of space.

Ancient Mounds and History

The Arboretum also holds a secret from the past! On the east side of the property, there are two ancient mounds. These mounds were built by the Adena and Hopewell people long ago. When they were explored in 1965 and 1966, researchers found many interesting items inside, like tools, bones, and stone points.

Indiana's Rock Collection

Even though they aren't native to the Arboretum, you can also see a cool collection of rocks! A former professor from Earlham College, Dan Kinsey, donated his geology 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 and fixed up. It's now a museum where you can learn all about the Hayes Family and their company, the Hayes Track Appliance Company. It's a great way to step back in time!

Nature Center

The Arboretum's nature center is located in a renovated dairy barn from 1833. Inside, you'll find lots of information and displays about trees, local woods, and the animals and plants that live here. There's even a special room for watching birds, an exhibit with live honey bees, and a sensory room filled with natural objects and live specimens. The center offers many programs about local plants, wildlife, and other nature topics. You can also find restrooms and a drinking fountain inside.

See also

• List of botanical gardens and arboretums in Indiana