Arbor Day
On January 4, 1871, J. Sterling Morton proposed a tree planting holiday called "Arbor Day" at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture. The date was set for April 10, 1872. Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for properly planting the largest number of trees on that day. It was estimated that more than One Million Trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.
Arbor Day was officially proclaimed on March 12, 1874, and the day itself was observed April 10, 1874. In 1885, Arbor Day was named a legal holiday in Nebraska and April 22, Morton's birthday, was selected as the date for its permanent observance. To find out more about Arbor Day's History, go to www.arborday.org.
To find great ideas from the National Arbor Day Foundation, click here.
