Our Arboretum
Prescott’s Sharlot Hall Museum has been awarded Level I Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, recognizing the Museum’s achievement of professional standards for arboreta and botanic gardens.
The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative that certifies the development, capacity, and professionalism of arboreta. With this honor, Sharlot Hall Museum is now officially listed in the Morton Register of Arboreta, an international database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants.
A Campus Rooted in Pride and History
Asked why the Museum pursued arboretum accreditation, Executive Director Stuart Rosebrook shared:
“Because we want to share our pride in this beautiful and historic campus.”
That vision traces back nearly a century to Museum founder Sharlot M. Hall, who proposed “to make of the grounds a little park of northern Arizona trees, shrubs, and flowers.”
Today, the Museum’s four-acre campus is an urban oasis featuring:
89 species of trees and woody plants
The Yavpé Ethnobotany Garden, developed in collaboration with the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe
The Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden, home to 180 historic rose varieties
Interwoven among the gardens are eight historic buildings, including the 1864 log Territorial Governor’s Mansion on its original site, along with additional structures housing exhibits and educational programs.
Arizona’s Liberty Tree
As Arizona begins its participation in commemorating the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026, the General George Crook Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has presented the Museum with its 90th distinct tree species: a Kwanzan Flowering Cherry Tree, designated as Arizona’s Liberty Tree.
Stewardship for the Future
The Museum’s groundskeeper and horticulturist, supported by a dedicated group of volunteers, continues to plant and care for trees, shrubs, and perennials that are either native to the region or descended from plants cultivated by pioneer farmers, families, and ranchers.
Among the most intriguing specimens are two apple trees and a London plane tree that may have been planted by Sharlot Hall herself.
About ArbNet Accreditation
ArbNet is an international community of arboreta that promotes the sharing of knowledge, experience, and resources while working to raise professional standards worldwide. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, in cooperation with the American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
Learn more at www.arbnet.org.
A special thanks to the following:
