Dawes honors the America-250 Ohio Commission
September 23, 2026
From the Dawes Arboretum
NEWARK, OH – The Dawes Arboretum dedicated a post oak tree to the America-250 Ohio Commission on Sept. 18, 2026. Tree Dedications at The Arboretum are chosen by The Board of Trustees to “honor individuals or groups of outstanding achievement in the stream of human history, or events of significance to The Dawes Arboretum.” Tree Dedications at The Arboretum began in 1927.
America 250-Ohio is leading Ohio’s statewide celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States throughout 2026. Bringing communities together across all 88 counties, the organization connects Ohioans with events, educational programs, cultural experiences, and stories that highlight Ohio’s unique role in American history. Through initiatives ranging from historic trails and murals to community readings and under-told stories, America 250-Ohio invites everyone to discover, celebrate and reflect on Ohio’s contributions to the American history.
Ceremonial tree plantings have been planted all throughout Ohio since 2025 through America-250 Ohio as part of the Heritage Trees: Planting History program. The Heritage Trees program aims to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary by planting trees across the state. The program was created in partnership with Dawes, Cox Arboretum MetroPark, Holden Forests & Gardens, Keep Ohio Beautiful, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Rowe Arboretum, and Secrest Arboretum.
“Being honored with a Tree Dedication at The Dawes Arboretum, a tradition dating back nearly a century, is a distinction we are tremendously grateful for,” said Todd Kleismit, Executive Director, America 250-Ohio. “This recognition reflects the work of communities in all 88 Ohio counties who have embraced America’s 250th anniversary and helped bring our Heritage Trees initiative to life. We’re honored to have a piece of that story now rooted at Dawes for generations to come.”
Trees that are chosen for Tree Dedications show promise of a healthy and long life. To learn how to find a specific Tree Dedication, please visit here. To see the list of trees that have been dedicated at The Arboretum, please view here.
Historian, Leslie Wagner, said “This is the 10th Tree Dedication I’ve overseen on behalf of the arboretum board during my time as historian at The Dawes Arboretum. Being able to commemorate this organization during such a historic year is an absolute privilege. Today, we honored the America-250 Ohio Commission and America.”