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Photo: Pentawing, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
It's in a secluded plot just east of the University of Michigan Hospital. "The Arb" is a favorite place to enjoy peace and quiet in a setting removed from the bustle and traffic of everyday Ann Arbor. The Arb has no signage, no parking lot of its own, nor any restroom facilities. What it has is an impressive peony garden, many different species of native trees, shrubs, and grasses, and the Huron River runs through it. A gem that's worth seeking out.
Nichols Arboretum, locally known as the Arb, is an arboretum on the campus of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Arb is located adjacent to the Huron River, and features over 400 species, including 110 species of trees, in a varied, hilly landscape. A signature feature of Nichols Arboretum is the W. E. Upjohn Peony Garden, which features the largest collection of heirloom peonies in North America.
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"The Arb" comprises 123 acres (50 hectares) of hilly woodland along the Huron River, with collections of North American plants interspersed throughout. Peony garden, prairie, constructed wetland and Appalachian plant collection. At night you can see all of Ann Arbor from the top of the hill.
The oldest astronomical observatory in Michigan and 2nd oldest building remaining on campus. Take a free tour of the observatory and learn how it set the stage for The University of Michigan to become a center of science and research. The telescopes at this observatory served to set time for the entire city and keep the trains running on schedule until the development of more reliable timepieces and telecommunications.
Collections of paleobotany, micropaleontology, invertebrate paleontology and vertebrate paleontology.
Exhibit Museum of Natural History
Exhibits on natural sciences and anthropology, including prehistoric life, Michigan wildlife, Native American and other cultures, and rock and mineral specimens.
Housed in the School of Music, the Stearns Collection holds over 2500 pieces of historical and contemporary musical instruments from all over the world.
Over 10,000 artifacts focused on the history of dentistry, with particular interest in dental practice and technology in the United States and Michigan since the 18th century.