Each year, The Arboretum debuts a new exhibit with antique and vintage items from The Archives. The Arboretum has had many interesting exhibits over the years that have featured arboretum staff, clothing, art and more that aim to curate thoughtful historical experiences for visitors. The best part: this experience is included within admission.
 

  • The History Center is open Thursday - Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. 

Our 2026 History Center exhibit is Fueling a Legacy: The Pure Oil Company and Beman Dawes. Learn more about the exhibit here.

Interested in our past exhibits? Find those online below: 
 

Are you interested in seeing some Behind-the-Scenes photos? Click through the gallery below to see what went into curating The Arboretum's History Center exhibit, Fueling a Legacy: The Pure Oil Company and Beman Dawes.

Two people wearing black shirts and blue pants each stand on a side of a large, blue, white and black fabric printing of Beman Dawes in front of The Pure Oil News.
Two people wearing black shirts and blue pants stand in front of a fabric stantion with a Pure Oil station.
A group of Dawes employees carry a red and white Pure Oil gas station pump while a man stands behind them and looks at the camera.
Two Dawes employees, both wearing neon green shirts, hang up a Be Sure with Pure sign in The Dawes Arboretum's History Center.
Two fair-skinned women smile at the camera in front of a large scanner at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
A Dawes employee wearing a black hat and a plaid blue and white shirt measures a wooden frame.
A fair skinned woman wearing a blue shirt and tan pants rolls an artifact in a blue blanket.
A Dawes employee wearing a white shirt and blue jeans paints The Dawes Arboretum's History Center white.