Pennsylvania State Arboretum
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
(Philadelphia, PA)
Adopted on April 29, 1988.
The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania was adopted on April 29, 1988.
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is an interdisciplinary center that integrates art, science and the humanities.
Pennsylvania State Arboretum:
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
Official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Morris
Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania began in 1887 as "Compton," the summer home of John and Lydia Morris, brother and sister. The
I.P. Morris Company, an iron-manufacturing firm founded by their father and later run by John Morris, was a source of family wealth.
The land the Morrises purchased in Chestnut Hill was barren, with poor soil that drained too quickly; but with diligent care they surrounded their
home with a landscape and plant collection devoted to beauty and knowledge. "Two Lines," a sculpture by George Rickey marks the former mansion site.
The Widener Visitor Center was formerly the carriage house.
John was a noted plantsman and community leader who explored the new world of knowledge available to Victorians. John and Lydia traveled widely in
America, Asia, and Europe bringing ideas, artwork, crafts and plants back to Compton. They shared a love of history and art, and established a tradition
of placing sculpture in the garden that continues today. The Morrises were active in civic affairs and preservation, and believed in the power of education.
It was their earnest hope to be judged "worthy stewards."
John and Lydia Morris laid plans for a school and laboratory at Compton devoted to horticulture and botany. Through the stewardship and vision of the
Quaker family, Compton became the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania in 1932. Listed on The National Register of Historic Places, it
is an interdisciplinary resource center for the University, and is recognized as the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Science,
art, and humanities are pursued through a variety of research, teaching, and outreach programs that link the Arboretum to a worldwide effort to nurture
the earth's forests, fields and landscapes.
Romantic 92-acre Victorian garden displays Philadelphia's rarest and largest trees; rose garden, swan pond, Japanese rock gardens, colorful flower gardens and 1898 Fernery. Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, and open until 8:30pm on Thu only in Jun, Jul, Aug. Open weekends Sat-Sun 10am-5pm in Apr-Oct, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm in Nov-Mar. Cafe open May-Oct. Handicapped accessible.
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania100 Northwestern Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Contact:kms@pobox.upenn.edu
Phone: 215-247-5777
Pennsylvania House Bill No. 1071 - 1987
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL No. 1071 Session of 1987
INTRODUCED BY DOMBROWSKI, CAPPABIANCA, BOYES, MERRY AND BOWSER,
APRIL 7, 1987
SENATOR WENGER, STATE GOVERNMENT, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED,
MARCH 22, 1988
AN ACT
Imposing powers and duties on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission with respect to the observance of naval and maritime history
celebrations; ESTABLISHING AN OFFICIAL ARBORETUM OF PENNSYLVANIA; establishing an official flagship for the Commonwealth; and providing for interagency
cooperation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Flagship of Pennsylvania Act.
Section 2. Findings and declaration of policy.
It is hereby determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding and policy that:
(1) Section 2801-A of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, designates the Pennsylvania Historical
and Museum Commission as the official agency of the Commonwealth for the conservation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage.
(2) The commission holds in trust the UNITED STATES BRIGNIAGARA at Erie, Pennsylvania. One of only three existing early 19th century fighting ships
of the United States Navy, the UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA is the only remaining ship of its type from the War of 1812.
(3) The UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA serves today as a memorial to the Americans who built and sailed a squadron of warships so that the United
States would remain free of foreign domination. On September 10, 1813, this American squadron of nine small ships, six of them constructed in the settlement
of Erie, defeated a six-ship British squadron in the Battle of Lake Erie. This victory in the War of 1812 removed the British threat to the Northwest
Territory, opened supply lines and raised morale throughout an apprehensive and divided nation.
4) The UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA is significant because of its service during this engagement as Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's relief flagship after
his original flagship LAWRENCE had been disabled. Flying Perry's famous "Don't Give Up The Ship" battle flag, the UNITED STATES BRIGNIAGARA
was brought quickly into the line of battle, forcing the surrender of the British squadron. This event, marking the only time in history that an entire
British naval squadron was captured, was reported by Perry in his letter which began with the now-famous phrase, "We have met the enemy and they
are ours..."
(5) The UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA is further significant as being one of six ships constructed at Erie, built largely of native Pennsylvania materials
and sailed by Americans from various regions of what was the United States in 1813.
(6) After the War of 1812, the UNITED STATES BRIGNIAGARA remained in Erie as a station ship until 1820 when she was scuttled in Misery Bay to preserve
her for possible future use. Her remains were raised in 1913 by a group of Erie citizens and rebuilt for a grand tour of the Great Lakes ports to celebrate
the centennial of the Battle of Lake Erie. Since then, the Niagara has remained in Erie and, twice refitted, has become a major tourist attraction
in northwestern Pennsylvania.
(7) In 1988, the commission will begin a third restoration which will again return the UNITED STATES BRIGNIAGARA to the waters of the Great Lakes.
Section 3. Establishment of official Flagship of Pennsylvania.
The restored UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA is hereby designated the official flagship for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It shall be known as the Flagship
of Pennsylvania and its home port will be Erie, Pennsylvania.
Section 4. Powers and duties of commission.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To cooperate with the Department of Military Affairs, the Unites States Navy and other appropriate organizations in commemorating significant
events of our naval and maritime heritage.
(2) To sail the UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA, within the means at its command, to various ports of call and commemorative events as the official sailing
ambassador for Pennsylvania.
(3) To charge whatever fees are necessary to maintain the vessel and to encourage private financial support as appropriate in order to support the
UNITED STATES BRIGNIAGARA and its sailing program.
SECTION 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICIAL ARBORETUM OF PENNSYLVANIA. THE MORRIS ARBORETUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH IS ON THE NATIONAL
REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IS LOCATED IN PHILADELPHIA AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES AND CONSISTS OF 166 ACRES. THE MORRIS ARBORETUM, WHICH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED
AS A UNIQUE CULTURAL RESOURCE AND IS THE OLDEST, MOST EXTENSIVE CURATED COLLECTION OF TREES AND SHRUBS CULTIVATED FOR SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
FOR STUDY AND PROPAGATION IN THIS COMMONWEALTH, IS HEREBY SELECTED, DESIGNATED AND ADOPTED AS THE OFFICIAL ARBORETUM OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Section 5 6. Cooperation with commission.
All Commonwealth agencies and public officials shall cooperate fully with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in support of its naval
and maritime history program and, to that end, shall:
(1) Include the commission in any planning efforts for the commemoration of significant events of our naval and maritime history.
(2) Develop plans with the commission which will utilize the UNITED STATES BRIG NIAGARA as the official flagship for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SECTION 7. ERECTION OF SIGNS. THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES SHALL ERECT APPROPRIATE SIGNS DESIGNATING THE MORRIS ARBORETUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA AS THE OFFICIAL ARBORETUM OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
1 Section 6 8. Effective date.
2 This act shall take effect immediately.
