Take on a tree tour

FREMONT – See the many trees of Spiegel Grove and learn about their types and history with some colonial landscape history sprinkled in for America250 during tree tours offered throughout the spring and summer. Tours last about an hour and cover different trees and topics ranging from giant trees to trees that President Rutherford B. Hayes and his descendants named in honor of people they admired. These tours enhance the experience of walking at Spiegel Grove, an official arboretum and estate of the president and his wife, First Lady Lucy Hayes. It's located on the grounds of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums site in Fremont. John Havens, the museum's building and grounds superintendent, who leads the tree tours, will dress in colonial garb this year and add in some tree history that dates to America's founding in honor of the U.S. semiquincentennial, or 250th birthday, being celebrated throughout 2026. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are required and available at rbhayes.org. People can search for "2026 Spiegel Grove tree tours add some colonial history for America250." Tree tours are part of Hayes Presidential's America 250 celebration. Partial funding for America 250 events is provided by Albrechta & Liebold, Attorneys at Law. See the trees The 2026 tree tour schedule is: • 8 a.m. today — Arbor Day tree walk to the Bicentennial Oak: Celebrate Arbor Day and America's 250th birthday with a walk through Spiegel Grove to the bicentennial oak, one of the oldest trees in the arboretum, which dates to the American Revolution. Havens will lead the group from the museum's main entrance to the oak. The tree is located on the side of the historic Hayes Home. The group will meet at the museum's main entrance. This event is free, and no reservations are required. • 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23 — tree tour: Walk the arboretum and learn about the different trees. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18 and free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free. • 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13 — mystic giants tree tour: View some of the larger trees at Spiegel Grove and learn how to determine the age of trees and how trees affect their environment. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18 and free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free. • 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18 — trees named in honor of people tour: Learn the stories of the people who visited Spiegel Grove who had trees named in their honor and learn about the trees themselves. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18 and free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free. • 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 — gates and trees: Explore the trees at Spiegel Grove, visit the White House gates at the entrances to Spiegel Grove and learn some of the stories about them. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18 and free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free. • 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 — tree tour: Walk the arboretum and learn about the different trees. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults, $7 for ages 6-18 and free for ages 5 and younger. Hayes Presidential members can enjoy this tour for free. People can visit the website or call 419-332-2081 for more information.