skylight in the sun parlor The 52-room
neo-colonial house began in 1855 for
J. Sterling Morton, originator of
Arbor Day and
Secretary of Agriculture in the 1890s under President
Grover Cleveland. The house was originally a modest 4-room frame structure on . It was extended several times, most recently in 1903, and in later years served as the summer home for his son
Joy Morton, founder of
Morton Salt Company. The
mansion features Victorian and Empire furnishings, many of which were owned by the Mortons. Its sun parlor contains a fine
Tiffany skylight with grape trellis design. Trees were a central interest of J. Sterling Morton. He imported trees from all over the country in order to test their suitability to create windbreaks and otherwise break up the monotony of the great plains. The house is surrounded by 270 varieties of trees and shrubs, including gardens, apple orchards, and acres of
oaks,
maples,
chestnuts, and
pines, including at least 10 state-champion trees. Specimen trees are typically labeled with engraved bronze plates. Over the years, many of Arbor Lodge's
apple orchards were demolished, but in the 1990s their restoration began with plantings of
winesaps,
golden delicious,
red delicious,
jonathans, and
jonadels. == Activities and amenities ==