Red Butte Garden cultivates the human connection with the beauty of living landscapes.  We do this through plant displays and collections, education, conservation, and as a setting for cultural enrichment and events.

History

In 1930, Dr. Walter P. Cottam, co-founder of The Nature Conservancy and chairman of the Botany Department at the University of Utah, began using campus land for plant research. For more than 30 years, he evaluated plants to determine their adaptability to our region.

In 1961, the Utah State Legislature formally recognized Cottam's impressive collection by designating the University's campus landscape as the State Arboretum. The original legislation mandated that the Arboretum "provide resources and facilities for cultivating a greater knowledge and public appreciation for the trees and plants around us, as well as those growing in remote sections of the country and world."

With the growth of the Arboretum, the University hired a full-time director to initiate meaningful interpretation of the collections and to develop educational programs emphasizing practical horticulture and plant identification.

As the University grew, so did the Arboretum's need for permanent public educational facilities and display gardens. In 1983, the University dedicated 100 acres at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon for a regional botanical garden. The site provided an outstanding opportunity to showcase horticultural collections and to interpret the richly diverse natural area. This opportunity inspired the expansion of the Garden's mission to include not only horticulture but also conservation and environmental education.

The community funded organization's name changed from the State Arboretum to Red Butte Garden & Arboretum, and the Garden opened to the public in 1985. In 1994, the Walter P. Cottam Visitor Center, Courtyard Garden, Hemingway Four Seasons Garden and Dumke Floral Walk opened.

In 1999, the Children's Garden opened with the nationally renowned exhibit, David Rogers' Big Bugs! Just 3 short years later, the Richard K. Hemingway Orangerie opened.

Today Red Butte Garden remains a part of the University of Utah and is the largest botanical garden that tests, displays and interprets regional horticulture in a 400 mile radius. The Garden has 18 acres of display gardens and 2-3 miles of hiking trails.