Celebrate loved ones, treasured moments, or significant milestones in your life while furthering the Arboretum’s vision of a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.
Tribute gift options include individual tribute gifts for an honoree or the dedication of a bridge, tree, bench, brick, or Sterling Morton Library book. Tribute donors receive a one-year complimentary membership per tribute tree, bench, or bridge dedicated. All tribute supporters receive an acknowledgment for their gifts.
When establishing The Morton Arboretum as a designated charity to honor a loved one, please reach out to the tribute gift specialist to establish a tribute account in their name.
Suggested language for a celebration of life, obituary, or other event is as follows: “In lieu of flowers or gifts donations are appreciated to The Morton Arboretum through their Tribute Gifts page: Tribute Gifts.”
Note: To make an individual tribute gift honoring someone special choose the option “Donation for honoree”. Please list the honoree’s full name at the prompt.
The Arboretum maintains a carefully monitored ecosystem and does not allow for human or animal ashes to be distributed on its grounds. Personal items attached to trees, plants or other items on the grounds are impermissible and are removed, We offer a variety of options to provide tributes to loved ones who have a deep connection to The Morton Arboretum.
Revisions to tribute dedications on established tribute items (bridge, bench or tree) may be arranged with the tribute gift specialist for an additional fee.
Tribute Bridges
Dedicated bridges feature customized plaques and reserve naming rights for 10 years.
Nameplate dedications may hold up to six lines with 50 characters per line. The Arboretum provides a limited number of complimentary replica dedication tags.
Bridges are subject to availability. Only established bridge locations are available for dedication.
Contact the Arboretum’s tribute gift specialist to discuss bridge terms and levels of charitable support for:
- Drive-able bridge dedication
- Weathering steel bridge dedication
- Wood bridge dedication
Tribute Benches
With the support of Arboretum staff, select an established bench on our grounds for dedication.
Tribute benches feature customized plaques and reserve naming rights for 15 years. Benches are subject to availability.
The condition of the bench is assessed at the time of the dedication, and the type of bench is determined by its location on the grounds and by Arboretum staff.
Personalized dedications may hold up to four lines with 35 characters per line. The Arboretum provides a limited number of complimentary replica dedication tags.
Only established bench locations are available for dedication and are subject to availability.
Bench dedication of 15 years: $10,000
Tribute Trees
With the support of Arboretum experts, select a tree for dedication from our Natural Areas or from the Arboretum’s Landscape Collections for Science and Conservation.
Tribute trees are dedicated for the natural lifespan of the tree, which can vary based on the tree species and environmental conditions. Should a tree fail within the first ten years of the dedication, the Arboretum will work with the donor to select a replacement tree.
Only viable and healthy trees are dedicated. New trees and tree plantings are not available for dedication. Once a tribute tree is fully funded, the donor has a year to make a tree selection in coordination with the tribute gift specialist.
Personalized dedications may hold up to five lines, 25 characters per line. The Arboretum provides a limited number of complimentary replica dedication tags.
With the support of Arboretum experts, select a tree from the following options:
Natural Areas: $2,500
Natural area trees include native trees naturally growing on our grounds. Today, the goal for the Arboretum’s natural areas is to recover healthy populations of native plant and animal communities on the land and to foster as much native biodiversity as possible. At the Arboretum, more than 900 acres are managed as natural areas.
Arboretum Landscape Collections for Science and Conservation: $4,000
The Arboretum’s tree and plant landscape collections are a significant resource for scientific research worldwide. Arboretum staff collect, document, study, and care for these plants to work toward solutions to the key challenges facing trees today. Trees in this category are accessioned by Arboretum experts who study and follow the tree’s lifespan.
Learn more about the Arboretum’s important collections research.
Tribute Bricks
Tribute bricks are available for dedication in two areas: the Tribute Walkway, located in the forecourt of the Visitor Center, or Celebration Circle, located at the entrance to the Children’s Garden.
Engraved tribute bricks are installed twice a year, in spring and fall.
Brick orders for the spring 2025 installation must be placed by Thursday, March 29, 2025. Bricks are placed in the tribute walkways in late May.
Bricks are guaranteed for the lifespan of the walkway and remain the property of the Arboretum.
Brick placement is determined by Arboretum staff.
When placing a brick order, place the honoree’s full name when prompted and three, or six, lines of personalization in the “Tribute notes” section.
The thirteen (13) characters per line limit includes spaces and punctuation.
Tribute Walkway Bricks
8” X 8” Brick: $1,000 (six lines maximum, 13 characters per line)
4” X 8” Brick: $600 (three lines maximum, 13 characters per line)
Celebration Circle Bricks
4”x 8” Brick: $600 (three lines maximum, 13 characters per line)
Tribute Books
The collections of the Sterling Morton Library are devoted to the literature of botany and horticulture, and also include botanical art, natural history, and children’s books.
Select a book from the library or choose one in consultation with the Sterling Morton Library collections manager. Personalized dedications may hold up to seven lines, 35 characters per line. Books are dedicated for the life of the collection and remain the property of the Arboretum.
Library Book Dedication: $250