History of Arbor Day

The origins of Arbor Day date back to the early 1870s in the American Great Plains. A journalist by the name of Julius Sterling Morton had moved to Nebraska City with his wifeCarolinein 1854a little more than a decade before Nebraska gained its statehood in 1867. The couple purchased 160 acres and planted a wide variety of trees and shrubs in what was a primarily a flat stretch of desolate plain.

Morton also became the editor of the state’s first newspaperNebraska City Newswhich was a perfect platform for him to spread his knowledge of trees—and to stress their ecological importance to Nebraska. His message of tree life resonated with his readersmany of whom recognized the lack of forestation in their community. Morton also became involved with the Nebraska Board of Agriculture.

On January 71872Morton proposed a day that would encourage all Nebraskans to plant trees in their community. The agriculture board agreedand after some back-and-forth about the title—the event was originally going to be called “Sylvan Day” in reference to forest trees—Morton convinced everyone that the day should reflect the appreciation of all treesand “Arbor Day” was born.

With the seeds of interest already planted in the minds of devoted Nebraska City News readersthe first ever Arbor Day was held on April 101872and was a wild success. Morton led the charge in the planting of approximately 1 million trees. Enthusiasm and engagement was aided by the prizes awarded to those who planted trees correctly.

The tradition quickly began to spread. In 1882schools across the country started to participateand more than a decade after its introductionArbor Day became an official state holiday in Nebraska in 1885. April 22 was initially chosen because of its ideal weather for planting trees and in recognition of Morton’s birthday.

Within 20 yearsArbor Day had reached a large swath of the nation and was celebrated in every state except for Delaware. The holiday spread even further with the help of fellow agriculturalist Birdsey Northrop. In 1883Northrop introduced the concept of Arbor Day to Japan and continued to influence the creation of Arbor Days across EuropeCanada and Australia.

On April 151907President Theodore Roosevelta supporter of the conservation movementissued an “Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States,” telling them:

“It is well that you should celebrate your Arbor Day thoughtfullyfor within your lifetimes the Nation’s need of trees will become serious. We of an older generation can get along with what we havethough with growing hardship; but in your full manhood and womanhood you will want what nature once so bountifully supplied and man so thoughtlessly destroyed.”

It wasn’t until 1970howeverthat Arbor Day became recognized nationwide thanks to the efforts of President Richard Nixon. This move was in line with other environmentally-friendly actions taken by Nixon in the 1970sincluding the passing of the Clean Air Actthe Endangered Species Actthe Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Protection Actalong with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Some states celebrate Arbor Day at different times of year to ensure that the trees are in the best environment to thrivebut the national observance falls on the last Friday in April. Unlike federal holidays such as New Year’s DayFourth of July and ThanksgivingArbor Day is a civic holiday that does not grant time off to employees or studentsnor close banks or other businesses.

Julius Morton died in 1902well before the holiday was given a formal day of observance across the country. Stillhe is still commemorated in WashingtonD.C.with a statue dedicated to the “Father of Arbor Day” in the National Hall of Fame.

Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April in the United States. It is marked by the planting of trees and emphasizes caring for them as a way to sustainably protect our planet’s natural resources. People often dedicate trees to loved ones. Morton’s words about Arbor Day resonate strongly todayas climate change becomes a crisis: “Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.”