UWâMadison Arboretum designated a National Historic Landmark
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Curtis Prairie, seen from the Wisconsin Native Plant Garden, is regarded as the oldest restored prairie in the world. UWâMadison Arboretum
The University of WisconsinâMadison Arboretum has been designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. The designation is based on the Arboretumâs pioneering work in restoration ecology, its place in the history of conservation, and its commitment to Aldo Leopoldâs land ethic.
The UWâMadison Arboretum was established in the 1930s as an outdoor laboratory to study how to repair damaged and degraded landscapes. Its function, according to Leopold in his 1934 dedication speech, was to be âa reconstructed sample of old Wisconsin, to serve as a benchmark, a starting point, in the long and laborious job of building a permanent and mutually beneficial relationshipâ between people and the landscape.