As trees take center stage nationally this Arbor Day, Huskers can take a walk among the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s own historic giants.
A project led by Landscape Services and the HealthierU employee wellness program has created a 1.3-mile walking tour of City Campus trees. Available online and through the Footpath app, the Historic Tree Tour highlights 27 arbors — including ginkgoes, a tree family dating back at least 65 million years, and a blackgum tree, a species used by Native Americans for carving and medicinal purposes.
“We have some amazing trees on our campus, and this tour is the perfect way to take a break, get outside for a little exercise and learn about their history,” said Annalisa Davenport, assistant director of employee wellness. “It is one of the many great walking opportunities offered through our employee wellness program.”
The tour was mapped by the Landscape Services team, said Eileen Bergt, assistant director of Landscape Services. They placed special tree signs with redwood-colored plaques that identify each specimen as part of the “Historic Tree Tour.”
“We recently asked to see if the shingle oak, which is part of the tour and located on the northeast corner of Bessey Hall, could be a Nebraska champion tree,” Bergt said. “After being measured and fully evaluated, it has earned the designation and is now the champion shingle oak for all of Nebraska.”
The tree tour is among 16 walking paths of varying distances offered through the university’s HealthierU program. The team plans to add a walking tour of trees on East Campus in the near future. The complete list, along with details on the Footpath app and HealthierU website, is available online.
“We are also open to adding more walking paths if members of the campus community have ideas,” Davenport said.
Students, faculty and staff can contact Davenport for more information or to suggest new walking paths by emailing adavenport5@unl.edu.
