New Jersey's Newest Arboretum at Liberty Hall Museum
Just in time
for spring, Liberty Hall has been designated as an arboretum by the global
organization ArbNet.
The ArbNet
Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative to officially
recognize arboreta based on a set of professional standards. To be recognized as a Level II Arboretum, Liberty Hall had to satisfy stringent criteria, including having a collection with a minimum of 100 species, varieties or
cultivars of trees or woody plants, as well as enhanced educational and public
programming.
“There have
been many moving components that helped turn this idea into another part of
Liberty Hall’s rich legacy, and we are thrilled to receive accreditation as an
arboretum,” said Megan Couch, Liberty Hall’s newly appointed arboretum
director. “The museum’s trees and plants will be labeled, providing an
interactive experience for our visitors.”
The Arboretum
at Liberty Hall is home to some of the state’s most historically significant
trees, including a horse chestnut planted in 1770 by the daughter of New
Jersey’s first elected governor and Liberty Hall’s first resident, William
Livingston. Bartlett and Seckel pear trees on the property also date from the
18th century. Liberty Hall’s storied history began in 1760 when Livingston, who
would be elected governor in 1776, purchased a large tract of land in
Elizabethtown, New Jersey, to take up farming and embrace country living.
Livingston’s descendants, the Kean family, lived on the property until
1995.
As each
generation of residents added to the exquisite planting schemes Livingston laid
out, a truly unique garden took shape making Liberty Hall a living archive of
over 250 years of American garden design. The grounds surrounding Liberty Hall
underscore the Livingston and Kean families’ love of nature. Documents
chronicling the history of the grounds have been preserved and archived by the
family and continue to provide a guiding influence for present-day
caretakers.
“Adding an
arboretum to the museum campus seemed like a natural fit, and I am excited
about this new aspect. I cannot wait to welcome patrons of all ages to come and
enjoy New Jersey’s newest arboretum,” said Liberty Hall's Executive Director
Rachael Goldberg.
Liberty Hall
is located on the campus of Kean University and provides a wide variety of
research opportunities to its faculty and students.
The Arboretum
at Liberty Hall will open for tours starting Thursday, April 1. Open from April
to December with guided and self-guided tour options, the museum continues to
delight visitors from around the world in every season. For more information on
tours and events, call Liberty Hall at (908) 527-0400 or visit libertyhall.kean.edu.
ABOUT
KEAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in
1855, Kean University is one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher
education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff
population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and
is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving more
than 16,000 students. The University’s six undergraduate colleges offer more
than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The
Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers seven doctoral degree programs and more
than 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional
diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union, Toms River, Jefferson and
Manahawkin, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its
mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.
ABOUT
LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM
Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 240 years of
American history. The museum also houses extensive collections of furniture,
ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston
and Kean families. The Firehouse Museum, built in 2004, houses three antique
fire engines, including a rare 1911 American LaFrance Metropolitan Steam
Engine. The museum is open April – December, Wednesday – Sunday from 10 a.m. –
3 p.m., with tours leaving every hour.
For
reservations and further information, call (908) 527-0400, email libertyhall@kean.edu or visit libertyhall.kean.edu.
Liberty Hall Museum is located at 1003 Morris Avenue in Union, New Jersey.