The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens holds a fascinating history, evident in the very landscape you see today. In the late 19th century, this land was part of the bustling Jacksonville, Mayport & Pablo Railroad (JM&P). From roughly 1888 to 1895, trains traversed this area, carrying passengers and freight between the city and coastal destinations like Mayport and the areas now known as Kathryn Abbey Hannah Park. Though the railroad ceased operations and the tracks were removed, the old railroad bed remained in use as a wagon road.
The mid-20th century brought a different kind of activity: mining. In 1944, the Humphries Gold Mining Company excavated portions of the Arlington area, seeking valuable minerals like rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite. The evidence of this industrial period is still visible, with tailings deposits at the north end and around the Millcoe Road parking lot. Mining operations concluded in 1961, leaving behind a unique geological footprint.
In the 1970s, the City of Jacksonville acquired the land as a natural buffer zone between a new regional wastewater treatment plant and residential neighborhoods to the east. For the next thirty years, the property was essentially forgotten except by those needing a place to dump trash, construction waste and auto parts. During this period, Lake Ray and the borrow pits were constructed, further shaping the landscape. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through the 1970s provide a compelling visual record of these transformations, from mining scars to the emergence of the Arboretum's current form.
In 2003, a group of citizens looking for a site in Jacksonville to start an arboretum and public garden noticed the potential of the site. As stakeholders in the property, The City, JEA and EPA all agreed that an arboretum and garden would be an asset to the community and, in 2004, the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens was created as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. The property was leased to JABG with the intent to develop, operate and maintain it.
The Arboretum officially opened to the public on November 15, 2008. Today, JABG stands as a place where nature and history intertwine, offering visitors a chance to explore both the natural beauty of Northeast Florida and the layers of its past.
Our Mission Statement
Cultivating understanding and wonder by engaging the community through the natural beauty of Northeast Florida.
Our Goals
Restoration
We revive the natural resources entrusted to us so that they can continue to do the same for the mind, body, and spirit of our visitors.
Resiliency
We adapt and adjust to changing circumstances, and commit to continuous improvement.
Growth
With dedicated effort and continuous learning, we improve and achieve all that we set out to accomplish for the community.
Discovery
We facilitate education and programs through the intricacies, wonder, and inherent beauty of nature.
Welcoming
We have a culture of warmth and belonging, being open to all people.