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The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, dates back to 1932. It’s a 92-acre, Victorian landscape garden of winding paths, streams, flowers and special garden areas. This summer the Arboretum is featuring an attraction that is sure to capture the attention of lighthouse lovers as well as train aficionados.
A Garden Railway display opened on June 16 and will be open until October 8. The trains that run through the garden on more than 1,000 feet of track are G scale, with six trains representing various railroads throughout history. Three trolley car lines are also in operation. The Garden Railway area is accented with trees, shrubs and colorful flowers, as well as 34 miniature buildings of the surrounding area of Philadelphia, such as Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House, Congress Hall, Washington’s Headquarters, and more.
But what makes the Garden Railway special for lighthouse fans is the presence of 13 incredibly detailed scale models of lighthouses, each with a working beacon. The lighthouses and other buildings are built of all natural material like acorns, moss, twigs, leaves, seeds, and honeysuckle vine.
The lighthouses and the display itself were designed by landscape architect and set designer Paul Busse of Applied Imagination in Alexandria, Kentucky. He and his staff spent many hours painstakingly constructing the lighthouse models. Busse has always been interested in lighthouses, and he realized that their popularity made them a natural focus for the garden railway display.
People who know lighthouses will recognize the care and attention to detail that has gone into these replicas. The fact that they are made out of natural materials makes them even more amazing and unique. If you’re in the Philadelphia area this summer or fall you won’t want to miss this.
The Arboretum is open through October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. The Garden Railway and lighthouses will be on display until October 8.
To learn more about the Morris Arboretum, call 215-247-5777 or visit their website at www.morrisarboretum.org.
This story appeared in the July 2001 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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