Location
& Driving Directions
Two hundred thirty acres extending from 40th Avenue East
and East Madison on the south, to Highway SR-520 and Lake Washington
on the north.
From downtown Seattle: drive east on Madison St.
to Lake Washington Blvd. E; turn left into the Arboretum.
From
Interstate 5: take exit 168 (Bellevue-Kirkland) onto Hwy. 520;
take first exit to Lake Washington Blvd. E., and follow it into
the Arboretum.
From east of Lake Washington: drive west on the
Evergreen Point Bridge (Hwy. 520) to the first Seattle exit (Lake
Washington Blvd. S.); from the ramp turn left into the Arboretum.
Buses: 11, 43, and 48 run near the Arboretum, McGraw street stop is recommended.
Business offices are located at the Graham Visitors Center: 2300 Arboretum Drive East, Seattle, WA 98112
Map and Directions to Washington Park
Arboretum
WPA Trail Map
Design
& Overview of Collections
The
Washington Park Arboretum was designed by James Dawson of the
Olmsted Brothers firm, and was developed in the 1930's with WPA funds
and labor. Among the Arboretum's 20,000 trees, shrubs and vines, more
than 10,000 are catalogued in collections. 4,600 different species are
cultivated varieties from around the world, and 750 of the taxa were
collected in the wild. 139 plants in the Washington Park Arboretum on
the endangered species list. 95% of the Arboretum's collections are
on display. Collections include rhododendron, azalea, mountain ash,
pine, spruce, cedar, fir, crabapple, holly, magnolia, camellia, and
Japanese maple.
Hours of Operation & Admissions
The Washington
Park Arboretum is open from dawn to dusk seven days
a week. The gates on the north and south end of Arboretum Drive
East are closed during non-open hours. The Graham Visitors
Center is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm seven days a week. Admission
to the Washington Park Arboretum is free.
The Japanese Garden admission fee is $5.00;
for information, including events and hours, please call 206-684-4725.
Information Phone Numbers
- Graham Visitors Center: 206-543-8800
- Arboretum Foundation: 206-325-4510
- Japanese Garden: 206-684-4725
- Education
Department: 206-543-8801
- Center For Urban Horticulture: 206-543-8616
- Elisabeth C. Miller Horticulture Library Plant Answer Line: 206-897-5268
Goals
- To enhance public appreciation for the aesthetic diversity of temperate woody plants.
- To educate the public and regional school population about urban landscape use and the natural biology of temperate woody plants.
- To conserve both natural and cultivated woody plant taxa to preserve their diversity for future appreciation.
- To cooperate with other similar institutions regionally, nationally and internationally.
Facilities
- Graham Visitors Center and Gift Shop - Built in 1985 with $700,000 raised by The Arboretum Foundation.
- Seattle's Japanese Garden - An authentic and exquisite stroll garden which features a beautiful collection of Japanese and Northwest plantings, sculptures, rocks and wildlife.
- Patricia Calvert Greenhouse - A valuable membership resource for the propagation of rare and unusual plants from Arboretum collections.
The Arboretum Foundation
The Arboretum Foundation, a non-profit membership organization, has provided stewardship for the Washington Park Arboretum since 1935 through membership and volunteer services, fundraising and public information. Members receive discounts on programs, a newsletter and colorful quarterly magazine, early admission to plant sales and hands-on horticultural learning opportunities. For membership information, call 206-325-4510 or e-mail gvc@arboretumfoundation.org.
Administration
- University
of Washington - responsible for the plant collections and
educational programs, in association with Director of University
of Washington Botanic Gardens - Sandra Lier
- Dean of the College of Forest Resources - B.
Bruce Bare, Ph.D.
- The Arboretum Foundation - provides funding and volunteer assistance for the maintenance, development and renovation of Arboretum gardens and collections.
- Executive Director of the Arboretum Foundation - Paige Miller
- President of the Arboretum Foundation - Neal Lessenger
- City of Seattle - owns the land and buildings; its Parks and Recreation Department maintains park functions.
- Superintendent of Parks & Recreation - Timothy A Gallagher
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General Information