Bicentennial Landscape Map | Colgate at 200 Years

As a tribute to Colgate’s bicentennial, we planted 200 trees across the upper campus. Use the pins in the map below to learn more about the trees that have been planted.

Trees line the academic quad of Colgate University

The Bicentennial Landscape Project was inspired by historic images of the majestic canopy that once enveloped the core of the campus.

New tree plantings on the iconic Academic Quad, Residential Quad, and surrounding areas have restored the lush verdure of yore.

This project was the first phase in a broader landscape planning and renewal initiative to sustain and strengthen our natural and built environments. Sustainable practices are at the heart of this renewal. Colgate community members supported this initiative by purchasing and naming trees that were planted on campus, beginning in the spring of 2018.

For more information, contact Jessica Reilly ’04 at 315-228-6713 or jreilly1@colgate.edu.

Over time, the upper campus has experienced significant change. With the arrival of Dutch elm disease in North America in the late 1920s, many of the stately American elms were decimated. Other trees were removed through campus expansion.

Today, many existing trees are reaching the ends of their lifespans. Some varieties, such as the American ash, are threatened by new pests and diseases.

Through the Bicentennial Landscape Project, Colgate has been able to address current threats to existing trees and restore the character of the campus landscape and the natural elements that define our unique sense of place.