Founded in 1841 by John Van Cleve. Mr. Van Cleve chose the original 40-acre site for its hilltop views and a remarkable variety of trees. In 1843, Mr. Van Cleve inventoried the trees on the property; finding 41 different species. In the early years, special care was taken to preserve the finest specimens of trees and shrubs to retain the natural beauty of the area.
Most of these tree species are still represented on the grounds; the species list has grown to over 165. Woodland is best known for its collection of Oak trees. Of the 58 species that are native to North America, Woodland has 25 varieties.
Accredited Arboretum Status
Over the years, Woodland has been the recipient 10 “State Champion Tree” awards from the Ohio Division of Forestry. In 2018, Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum in Dayton was awarded a Level II Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens.
Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is also now recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants.