The Midland Lutheran College Heritage Arboretum is one of a network of affiliated sites that together constitute the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Each affiliate of this unique organization has accepted the challenge of developing collections and programs that meet local needs, while at the same time, cooperating with NSA on its mission to enhance the culture and beauty of all Nebraska.

The Midland College Heritage Arboretum encompasses most of the main campus of Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. Fremont is located along the Platte River in east-central Nebraska approximately 50 miles North of Lincoln and 35 miles Northwest of Omaha. The campus is very flat with little or no noticeable change in grade. Access to the campus arboretum can be made virtually anywhere along the streets that surround the campus. The designated entry point is near the Anderson Complex on the west side of campus. Visitor parking is indicated in the surface lot near by.

The total campus is a little over 40 acres, but the portion of the campus included in the arboretum is approximately 25 acres. The majority of trees currently listed under the arboretum description were planted about 1986 and were part of a Peter Kiewit and Keep Fremont Beautiful landscape development. This was an effort to replant the campus after "deforestration", by disease of elm and soft maple in the 1960's and 1970's, with a variety of trees so that a tree disease will not completely deforest the campus again.

Our goal is to display and interpret a wide diversity of landscape plant material appropriate for the Fremont area (Lower Platte Valley) of Nebraska, not unusual or exotic plants uncommon to the area.

Our mission is to show respect and fond regard for the world we live in; to provide a setting for the display of landscape useful to the educational mission of the college (including teaching, research and evaluation); and to exist for the benefit and enjoyment of campus visitors and the citizens of Fremont.

In our arboretum we not only have various trees, shrubs and plants, but we also have a blending of nature and art. This includes several sculptures on campus that enhance the beauty of the arboretum.

The Midland Lutheran College Heritage Arboretum is funded by various programs and people in the surrounding area. With out these funds, our arboretum would not be as beautiful and diverse as it is today.

In August 1995, Midland Lutheran College began the process of applying to be a Master Arboretum affiliated with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. One strong characteristic of Midland's Arboretum is that, over the years, dedicated people have been involved in the original planning and ongoing development of the project. Various trees on campus were given in honor of faculty, staff and administrative retirees, or in memory and honor of a loved one, including students, alumni, friends and family. Over time this evolved into the Midland Lutheran College Heritage Tree Program.

Photos by: Nick Barry, Steve Bunck, Nate Bunton, and Gary Carlson