Welcome to Linnaeus Arboretum
at Gustavus Adolphus College
Welcome to the Linnaeus Arboretum! Located on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College, the Arboretum provides an enriching environment to educate the mind, revive the spirit, and delight in Minnesota’s natural history and the College’s Swedish heritage.
With abundant gardens, natural spaces, outdoor classrooms, and featured events, the Arboretum encourages students of all ages to explore, provides a scenic backdrop for any special occasion, and serves as a point of connection between the campus and Saint Peter communities.
The Arboretum is named for the Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), who is best known for his work in standardizing plant identification and introducing the binomial nomenclature system used today. The Arboretum’s logo incorporates a favorite plant of Linnaeus, the Linnaea borealis (commonly known as the twinflower), which is found in both Sweden and northern Minnesota.
The Arboretum is comprised of the three major vegetation communities found throughout Minnesota - the coniferous forest, the tallgrass prairie, and the deciduous forest - in addition to formal gardens and hardy trees from around the world surrounding the Melva Lind Interpretive Center. We invite you to walk the Arboretum trails, experience its special beauty, and enjoy this unique campus sanctuary.
Other resources and information for your time on campus or in the Saint Peter area:
Quick Facts
History of the Arboretum
Mission & Objectives
Contact & Staff
Stories from the Arb
A Year at the Arb
The Twinflower Newsletter
