The Arboretum Trsteno, near Dubrovnik in Croatia was the first arboretum. It was found to be in existence since 1500s. In the United Kingdom, the Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, is in existence from 1828. But it was a private tree collection of Captain Robert Holford. It was continued by his son after his death. But eventually it was passed on to the public.
The most famous arboreta is the Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest and largest arboreta. The Bedgebury Pinetum near Goudhurst, Kent hosts a complete collection of conifers. Derby Arboretum was the first public arboretum in England donated to citizens in 1840. It was destroyed due to industrial pollution in the 1880s but later renovated and replanted.
In the 20th century the Morton Arboretum was established in 1922 in Illinois and the United States National Arboretum was established in Washington D.C in 1927. The former is one of the largest arboreta in the world while the latter receives over half a million visitors yearly. The National Arboretum hosts herbaceous and aquatic plants, the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, the Asian Collections, the Conifer Collections, native plant collections, the National Herb Garden and the "National Grove" of all the designated State Trees. The Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle, Washington was constructed in the Washington park.
