Julius Sterling Morton and his wife, Caroline or “Carrie,” moved to the Nebraska Territory not long after the land was opened to settlement in 1854.

Born in New York on April 22, 1832, Morton grew up in Michigan. He married Carrie, his high school sweetheart, and on their wedding day, they set out for Nebraska. Settling in the newly opened territory, the Mortons missed their orchards and became keenly aware of the differences between the eastern woodlands and the Plains.

That’s why the couple and their sons embarked on a lifelong mission to plant orchards and trees at their eventual new home, Arbor Lodge in Nebraska City. And that’s why Morton proposed the idea of an entire holiday dedicated to planting trees, Arbor Day, to the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture in 1872.

On that first Arbor Day in Nebraska, April 10, 1872, it was estimated that more than 1 million trees were planted in the state. The unique holiday is now celebrated at different times in all 50 states and in several countries around the world.

Storied career

Morton had a long and storied career as an agriculturist, tree planter and statesman. From 1858-61, he was appointed as the territorial secretary of state, and was the acting territorial governor from 1858-59.

During Morton’s time on the road, Carrie and their four sons became important caretakers to Arbor Lodge and the massive orchards, farm and woods surrounding the estate. Carrie died tragically at age 47 in 1881 in her room at Arbor Lodge from complications of a leg infection.

Morton ran unsuccessfully for Nebraska governor three times. He was appointed U.S. secretary of agriculture in President Grover Cleveland’s cabinet from 1893-97. He died at the home of his son on April 27, 1902.

Today, if you visit Nebraska City, it is difficult to miss Morton’s influence, especially at his beloved home, Arbor Lodge and the 72-acre estate. Now a state historical park, the estate began as a four-room cabin but grew over time to a 52-room mansion.

After Morton died, the signature porticos, stucco exterior and terraced Italian garden were added by J. Sterling’s son Joy, who used the mansion as a summer home. Inside the beautiful mansion, visitors find hundreds of family artifacts, and the study where Morton did most of his writing.

In 1905, Morton’s former boss, Cleveland, spent the night at Arbor Lodge during a visit for a memorial dedication honoring J. Sterling. It is believed that President Theodore Roosevelt visited as well, because Morton’s second-born son, Paul, was Roosevelt’s secretary of the navy. In 1923, Joy donated the entire estate to the state of Nebraska, and it became the second state park later that same year.

Learn more about Arbor Lodge at outdoornebraska.gov.