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  1. Home
  2. About Penn State Behrend
  3. The Arboretum at Penn State Behrend

Origins of the Arboretum

In 1948, Mary Behrend donated her 400-acre Glenhill Farm to Penn State Behrend in memory of her husband, Ernst, co-founder of the Hammermill Paper Company.

Arthur Westcott Cowell, a nationally-noted designer who established the Department of Landscape Architecture at Penn State in 1913, had developed the original plan for landscaping at Glenhill shortly after the Behrends acquired the property in the early 1930s. While living at Glenhill, the Behrends added to its beauty by acquiring many exotic trees. The couple traveled extensively and must have been impressed by trees from Asia, as they acquired many.

Notable examples continue to thrive on campus today, including the Japanese Umbrella Pine near the Glenhill Farmhouse pool.

Today, Mary Behrend’s estate has grown into an 854-acre college campus bustling with thousands of students, yet it still maintains the natural beauty and peaceful serenity of a country retreat.

For More Information

  • To learn more about the arboretum, email Dr. Sherri “Sam” Mason, associate research professor and director of sustainability, or call 814-898-7019.
  • To discuss tree or bench memorials, or questions related to the Arboretum and Landscape Fund, please contact Carol Nicotra, assistant director of donor relations, at [email protected] or 814-898-6365.
  • Giving online? Support the Arboretum and Landscape Fund at Penn State Behrend.

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Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Behrend highlighted

Penn State Behrend

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, offers the learning opportunities of a major research university in a welcoming, student-centered campus environment.
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