Coker Arboretum
Coker Arboretum, fondly known by many as a quiet haven in the middle of the busy University of North Carolina campus, is the heart of one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. Managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden, it is one of the Garden's oldest tracts.
History
In 1903, Dr. William Chambers Coker, the University's first Professor of Botany and the first chair of the University Buildings and Grounds Committee, began developing a five-acre boggy pasture into an outdoor University classroom for the study of trees, shrubs, and vines native to North Carolina. Beginning in the 1920s and continuing through the 1940s, Dr. Coker added many East Asian trees and shrubs. These species, closely related counterparts to many North Carolina native plants, enhanced the beauty and educational value of the Arboretum. Today the collection consists of a wide variety of plantings including flowering trees and shrubs as well as bulb and perennial displays. The Arboretum has something unique to offer during every season of the year.
In April of 2003, the Arboretum celebrated its 100th Anniversary with exhibits and activities all over the University's campus and Chapel Hill. Part of the celebration was the production of an art book, A Haven in the Heart of Chapel Hill: Artists Celebrate the Coker Arboretum, which depicts the scenes and specimens as though one were on a walking tour of this special garden (see sidebar). The book makes a wonderful gift for anyone acquainted with the Arboretum, and the proceeds of its sale go toward ensuring the garden's care in the future.
Visiting the Coker Arboretum
The Arboretum is open dawn to dusk daily, year-round. Driving directions and parking information are given below, and there is a location map to the right in the sidebars. The University of North Carolina website also shows the location of the Coker Arboretum in relationship to the campus.
Visitors to the Arboretum can refer to interpretive brochures, stored in marked storage boxes at several locations, to guide their walks through this historic site. Parents and teachers can download the Kid's Scavenger Hunt worksheet [PDF] to provide an exciting pedagogical activity.
Volunteers are always needed to keep the Coker Arboretum running. Please refer to our Become a Volunteer section for more information.
Please note: Because we are reviewing and revising facility rental policies for all sites under the care of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, we have suspended rental of the Arboretum for weddings. We are not taking rental reservations at this time. If you have questions, please call 919-962-0522.
Directions to the Arboretum
Coker Arboretum is located next to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on the UNC campus. For GPS navigation, you can enter the address 399 E. Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill. Also, see map to right.
From I-40 West (coming from Raleigh, Durham, points east):
Take Exit 273A and merge onto NC Hwy-54. After two miles, Hwy-54 becomes Raleigh Road. After another mile, at the top of the hill, turn right onto Country Club Road. The Arboretum is located at the corner of Country Club Road, as it turns into E. Cameron Avenue, and Raleigh Street.
From US 15-501/Hwy-54 Bypass (Fordham Boulevard W), coming from Carrboro, Farrington, points south and west:
At the intersection of Fordham Boulevard and NC Hwy-86/South Columbia Street, drive north (left turn) onto NC-86/South Columbia Street. In a little more than a mile, turn right onto Cameron Avenue. The Arboretum is located at the corner of Cameron Avenue and Raleigh Street.
From NC Hwy-86 South/I-40 East (Durham, Greensboro, points north and west):
Take I-40 East to US 15-501 South. Continue on US 15-501 South toward Chapel Hill. When the highway splits, take E. Franklin Street on the right. Continue through several traffic lights at Elliot Road and Estes Drive, then up the hill toward campus. Take a left turn at Raleigh Street (it is called Hillsborough Rd. on your right). The Arboretum is located at the corner of Country Club Road and Raleigh Street. Metered parking for the Arboretum is available on Raleigh Street. There are some visitors' spaces in the Morehead Planetarium paid parking lot (stay on Franklin St. instead of turning at Raleigh St., and the lot is on the left). If no spaces are available in these areas, there is metered parking available on Franklin Street and there are paid parking lots along Rosemary Street (from Raleigh Street, going north away from Cameron Avenue, go past Franklin Street and turn left onto Rosemary Street).
Become a Friend of Coker Arboretum
If you're interested in supporting the Coker Arboretum through a donation or endowment, download the Friends of Coker Arboretum form [PDF] and mail it to us.
Last updated by Laura Cotterman on March 23, 2009 at 03:23:08 pm.
