Our Mission:
Advance and inspire a deeper understanding of plants to enhance life.
Our Vision:
Vibrant green communities and diverse native forests of the Great Lakes region will flourish and sustain life.
Holden Forests & Gardens, a name that was first unveiled in 2016, is comprised of two institutions with long histories in Northeastern Ohio.
Founded in 1931 thanks to a generous bequest from Albert Fairchild Holden, the Holden Arboretum encompasses 3,600 acres in Lake and Geauga counties. The Arboretum combines cultivated gardens and natural areas, including two National Natural Landmarks – Bole Woods and Stebbins Gulch.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden was created in 1930 when members of the Garden Club of Greater Cleveland transformed an empty, brick boathouse along Wade Lagoon into a garden center that would house the collection of 250 horticultural books donated by Eleanor Squire and serve as a place for people to learn about plants and gardening.
In 2014, the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden came together to form a single institution, dedicated to supporting vibrant green communities in Northeastern Ohio and to providing the public with the information they needed to be good stewards of our environment.
Working together, the organization focused on scientific research, community outreach and education, while providing the public with two beautiful sites to visit and enjoy the beauty of nature.
In September 2016, a new name for the combined organization was launched – Holden Forests & Gardens. The new name reflects the natural beauty that can be found at both sites, from the formal gardens of the Cleveland Botanical Garden to the expansive acreage of native forests at the Holden Arboretum.
The strategic plan for the organization, adopted in 2016, guides everything we do, including research, community outreach, the visitor experience and long-term planning.