B11

The first Arbor Day took place in April, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist and politician originally from Michigan.

 POLITICS

B12

When he became a member of Nebraska's state board of agriculture, he proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing awareness of the importance of trees. Nebraska's first Arbor Day was an amazing success.  More than one million trees were planted.  

 AWARE

B13

On April 22, 1970, Arbor Day activities were modified to emphasize the critical importance of the environment.

 ACTIVE

B14

It was a time when cities were buried under their own smog and polluted rivers caught fire. Earth Day was created to remind people of their responsibility to protect the planet.      

 RESPONSIBLE

B15

Now Earth Day is celebrated annually around the globe.

 ANNUAL

B16

What started as a day of national environmental recognition has evolved into a worldwide campaign to protect our global environment. 

 GLOBE