Cheyenne in Laramie County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Welcome to the High Plains Arboretum

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 28, 2026

1. Welcome to the High Plains Arboretum Marker

Inscription.

HISTORY High Plains Arboretum
Authorized by Congress and the Secretary of Agriculture in March 1928, the Great Plains Field Station was established with the intent of creating a designated area to study fruits, vegetables, windbreaks, and ornamental plants. Cheyenne, Wyoming, has some of the toughest environmental conditions for plants to survive, including high elevation (6,200 feet), cold temperatures, drought, wind, hail, and short growing seasons, making this an ideal location for a horticultural experimental station.

Over the years the Field Station has conducted a wide range of research. It began with horticulture and shelterbelt research and later focused on rangeland management, mined land reclamation, water conservation, and soil conservation. Along with the changes in research, there were also changes in the oversight of the Field Station. Many influential superintendents guided the Field Station throughout the years. Most notable was A.C. Hildreth, for whom the main road you drove in on was named. In the early 1970s as horticulture research ended, less care and maintenance was devoted to the

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trees and shrubs. As a result, many perished. In 2000, a group of concerned citizens called the Friends of the High Plains Arboretum began to advocate for this portion of the Field Station and eventually was successful in transferring 62 acres to the City of Cheyenne. This 62 acres was named the High Plains Arboretum.

TODAY
"Making a connection from the past to the future"
Today, the City of Cheyenne Parks and Recreation Department maintains the arboretum. The focus has been on preserving existing plants, replacing original plants that have been lost, and adding new unique plants to the arboretum. Maintenance activities include watering, spreading mulch around trees and shrubs, mowing periodically, spraying herbicide to kill unwanted grass and weeds, and pruning the trees and shrubs.

The Legacy of the Cheyenne Field Station research includes:
• 2,000+ fruit varieties tested
• 1,300 varieties of woody ornamental plants tested
• 200 species of trees and shrubs tested for windbreaks
• 8,000 vegetable varieties tested
• 45 hardy chrysanthemums developed
• Hardy currants, gooseberries, sour cherries, and domestic plums developed

The

High Plains Arboretum Guide Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 28, 2026

2. High Plains Arboretum Guide Marker

Urban Forestry Division is attempting to re-establish an apple orchard at the arboretum. In the past, the Field Station, maintained a large apple orchard and allowed the public to pick apples. Trials are underway to grow many of the same apple species that grew back then. Eventually. as the apple orchard matures the public will be invited to enjoy Cheyenne grown apples once again.

[Photo captions, top to bottom, read]
• Early days of development at the Field Station met with harsh weather.
• After some time the Field Station is no longer barren, plants are livening up the landscape.
• Photo of fruit orchard that once thrived at the Field Station.
• The Orchard Today.

High Plains Arboretum Guide
[Aerial photo with] Legend and Species Key

[Timeline]
1928 Central Great Plains Field Station is established
1930 A.C. Hildreth is named Superintendent and the station is renamed the Cheyenne Horticultural Station
1935 CCC camp is established
1959 Hildreth retires
1962 28 years worth of research from the station is published
1964 Gene Howard is named the new Superintendent
1974 Station is renamed the High Plains Grassland Research Station
1976

Welcome to the High Plains Arboretum Kiosk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 28, 2026

3. Welcome to the High Plains Arboretum Kiosk

Gene Howard retires
2000 Friends of the High Plains Arboretum is formed in order to preserve a 62 acre site on the High Plains Grassland Research Station
2008 Management of the High Plains Arboretum is turned over to the City of Cheyenne
2015 Apple Orchard is planted in the arboretum by the City of Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division

Erected by City of Cheyenne.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1928.

Location. 41° 10.92′ N, 104° 53.813′ W. Marker is in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in Laramie County. It is at the intersection of Hildredth Road and Howard Lane, on the left when traveling north on Hildredth Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8601 Hildreth Road, Cheyenne WY 82009, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Laramie Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

Welcome to the High Plains Arboretum Marker Kiosk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 28, 2026

4. Welcome to the High Plains Arboretum Marker Kiosk

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: USDA Explorers, Irrigation Ditches And Civilian Conservation Corps (here, next to this marker); If You Were A Tree (here, next to this marker); Cheyenne Privet (within shouting distance of this marker); Kentucky Coffeetree (within shouting distance of this marker); Dwarf Russian Almond (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Apple Orchard (about 400 feet away); Apache Plume (about 400 feet away); Cheyenne Early Lilac (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cheyenne.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 2, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.