History of the Arboretum

A living connection between the past and present

The Arboretum is a living expression of Northeastern’s evolution from a barren landscape to an urban forest. Over more than a century, the Arboretum has played an integral role in transforming the Boston campus from an urban commuter college into the lush and verdant campus of today.

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Over the Years

Northeastern Landscape

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1898

Northeastern University founded

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1929

University purchases 72-acres along Huntington Avenue

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1950

Post World War II college expansion. Northeastern begins admitting women

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1983

Campus expansion begins—transitioning from a predominantly commuter to a residential university

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1998

Interior parking lots were eliminated and replaced with park spaces and plantings

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2019

Northeastern received Level-II accreditation from ArbNet

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2022

Acquired Mills College in Oakland CA, acquiring an inventory of 133 acres with 115 different taxa of trees