Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a 155-acre living museum in Rockford, Illinois, managed as a nonprofit in partnership with the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County. The arboretum traces its roots to the Taylor family nursery, which cultivated rare and hardy tree species from 1923 to 1968; the Klehm family purchased the property in 1968 and donated it in 1985, with the arboretum incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1989. The grounds include 12 specialty gardens, 1.4 miles of paved paths, and 3 miles of wooded trails. For private events, the Garden Pavilion — a spacious outdoor tented venue with a landscaped patio — accommodates weddings, corporate events, and social functions across the 155-acre campus. Klehm holds ArbNet Level II Accreditation and is recognized under the Museums for All initiative.