New buildings and display collections at The Dawes Arboretum begin with an idea and a drawing. The archives store conceptual drawings, landscape drawings and blueprints that span over decades. The history center exhibit this year offers a historical background on the architecture and exhibits you see on grounds today.
Many of the sites on The Arboretum’s grounds were directly impacted by our founders, Beman and Bertie Dawes. Whether their hands were involved directly in the building process or that the site was just a vision, Beman and Bertie’s legacy lives on through these areas.
The selected regions below are ones that have made a great impression on the historical aspect of The Arboretum. We hope that you enjoy learning all about our roots as well as the importance of our mission to our founders and to The Arboretum today.
Opening hours are every Wednesday through Sunday, May 1st-October 31st from 12pm to 3pm.
Below are some quick facts about some of the sites that will be included in the exhibit!
The Daweswood House Museum: Blueprints drafted by Ohio architect Frank Packard in 1919 for the proposed alterations to Beman Dawes’ country residence, now known as the Daweswood House Museum.
Dawes Lake: Although Beman Dawes did not live to see Dawes Lake, it was a part of his vision for The Arboretum. Spearheaded by his son Beman Dawes Jr., the United States Department of Agricultural Soil Conservation Service in Coshocton created the contour plans. Consisting of a watershed map and location plan drafted in June 1954, the lake was completed in 1956. Grading contractor C.M. Luburgh in Zanesville was hired to oversee the construction of the lake.
History Center: The site of the Dawes family garage was converted into exhibit space and history staff offices called the History Center in 1984. This exterior rendering was done in September 1982 by Rick Axline of Joseph Baker and Associates Architects in Newark.
To learn about more locations on our grounds, be sure to check out the 2024 History Center exhibit on your next visit to The Arboretum! Open every Wednesday through Sunday May 1st- October 31st from 12pm to 3pm.