Meet the Organizers: Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is a treasure-trove of tree, shrub, and plant species, a living forest research laboratory, and a place that renews and restores people’s connection with nature.

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest covers 16,142 acres of land in Bullitt and Nelson Counties and hosts more than 350,000 visitors from the U.S. and abroad every year. 

German immigrant Isaac W. Bernheim, who made his fortune in Kentucky’s distilling business, purchased the original parcel of land in 1929 and dedicated it to the people of the United States. At the time, the land was bare and treeless from its use in mining, but Bernheim envisioned a place that combined an arboretum and natural forested areas infused with the arts, creating a unique site to experience nature. In 1931, the famed Frederick Law Olmsted firm began work on a major site plan for the landscape arboretum, creating a design that was adopted by the Bernheim Board of Trustees in 1935. 

Since then, the forest’s acreage has expanded as it fulfilled Bernheim’s goal: to provide a place for renewal and restoration of the bond between people and nature. Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, which opened to the public in July 1950, now maintains more than 8,000 varieties of documented trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials in its nationally renowned 600-acre arboretum, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest offer visitors a range of opportunities, including guided hikes, educational programs, group tours, and an arts in nature program, as well as ECO Kids Discovery Days to promote childhood interactions with nature and the Bernheim Playcosystem, a 10-acre natural playground that allows children to explore the natural environment through open-ended, unstructured, and physically challenging play opportunities that support healthy development. 

As a research institution, Bernheim also is a living laboratory, and its size and ongoing conservation efforts attract researchers from around the globe. The research conducted at Bernheim informs best practices in land protection and conservation, both in the United States and internationally, and contributes to Bernheim’s reputation as a leader in ecological stewardship.  

Learn more at Bernheim.org.