Allen Centennial Garden

Allen Centennial Garden sits on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, surrounding the historic Dean's Residence, a Victorian Gothic house on the National Register of Historic Places that once housed the college's first four deans. Established through groundbreaking in 1985 and formally dedicated in 1989, the garden was named for donor Ethel Allen and the 100th anniversary of the Department of Horticulture. The 2.5-acre grounds hold 27 distinct garden styles, including the historic Goff larch planted in 1899, and are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk with free admission. For private events, the garden offers two rental spaces: the Great Lawn, which accommodates up to 300 seated guests, and the more secluded English Garden, which holds up to 180 seated guests. Both settings draw on the property's cultivated landscapes and historic architecture for weddings and other celebrations held April through October.