History:

The Reading Public Museum hosts an impressive arboretum that covers 25 acres of lushly appointed and carefully maintained natural beauty. An accredited station for the United States Bureau of Plant Industry, many of the 65 distinctive specimens in the park today are from the original planting in the late 1920s. Large, exotic trees are interspersed with indigenous trees and shrubs, providing fresh air and cooling shade during the summer. The Wyomissing Creek, which flows through the arboretum and park, provides a peaceful, mesmerizing ambiance for leisurely walks along the many pathways. Its cheerful bubbling also aids silent contemplation on foot bridges that span the creek. One of the many highlights of the arboretum is the opportunity to learn about nature. Free, self-guided tour maps of the arboretum are available in The Museum Atrium.