Tour Spiegel Grove arboretum, learn about trees, history with special tree tours
See the many trees of Spiegel Grove and learn about their types and history during a variety of tree tours offered throughout the year.
Tours last about an hour and cover different trees and topics ranging from giant trees to trees that President Rutherford B. Hayes and his descendants named in honor of people they admired. These tours enhance the experience of walking at Spiegel Grove, an official arboretum and estate of the president and his wife, First Lady Lucy Hayes.
Tickets are required and are coming soon. Tickets also will be sold at the museum front desk the days of the events, pending availability.
Tree Tours are sponsored by Dr. Mary and Charles Wonderly.
The 2025 schedule of tours:
- Friday, April 25 – Arbor Day Tree Tour and Dedication.
The tree tour begins at 8 a.m. at the museum entrance and will last about an hour. Participants will see some of the many trees at the Grove, which an accredited arboretum, and learn some of the history of the trees.
Tickets are required and are available below. Members will need to log in. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free.
The tour will end at the large American Sycamore tree behind the Hayes Home. At 9 a.m., the sycamore will be dedicated in honor of retired Building and Grounds Superintendent John Bell.
Bell worked at Hayes Presidential for more than 40 years and retired in June 2022. He lived on the property in the Carriage House.
The sycamore is his favorite tree at the Grove, and he enjoyed watching the sun rise each morning and illuminate the sycamore’s branches. Bell plans to attend the dedication.
- Saturday, May 3 – Tree Tour.Departs the museum at 10 a.m. Walk the arboretum, and learn about the different trees. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free.
- Saturday, June 7 – Trees Named in Honor of People Tour.Departs the museum at 10 a.m. Learn the stories of the people who visited Spiegel Grove who had trees named in their honor, and learn about the trees themselves. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free.
- Saturday, July 19 – Mystic Giants Tree Tour.Departs from the museum at 10 a.m. View some of the larger trees at Spiegel Grove, and learn how to determine the age of trees and how trees effect their environment. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free.
- Saturday, Aug. 9– Tree Tour. Departs the museum at 10 a.m. Walk the arboretum, and learn about the different trees. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free.
- Saturday, Sept. 6 – Gates and Trees.Departs the museum at 10 a.m. Explore the trees at Spiegel Grove. Visit the White House gates at the entrances to Spiegel Grove, and learn some of the stories about them. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free.
Spiegel Grove is a 25-acre arboretum has more than 100 species of trees, some of which date back to President Rutherford B. Hayes’ time on the estate and even earlier. Varieties include chestnut, oak, holly, gingko, various pines and more. A seedling of the Oklahoma City bombing Survivor Tree also has been planted and is thriving on the property.
The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum named Spiegel Grove a level II arboretum for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens.
Hayes Presidential is America’s first presidential library and the forerunner of the federal presidential library system. It is partially funded by the state of Ohio and affiliated with the Ohio History Connection. Hayes Presidential is located at Spiegel Grove on Buckland Avenue.
For information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org. Like Hayes Presidential on Facebook and follow on Instagram and X at rbhayespres and on Bluesky at rbhayespres.bsky.social.