Chronicling the Arb at 100

By the time the Cowling Arboretum celebrates its centennial in the 2026–27 academic year, Carleton’s beloved green space will have a new book dedicated to it, thanks to funding from the State of Minnesota. The Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant will help Nancy Braker ’81, the Arboretum’s Puzak Family Director, and writing team Ingrid Case ’90 P ’25 and Nat Case ’88 P ’25 build on past research to complete a history of the 800-acre Arb by June 2026. “Our arboretum is the oldest in Minnesota and the second-oldest in the Midwest,” says Braker, “and I’m excited to have this book to capture its natural and human stories.”