Coronavirus -19 Reopening Information:
Visitiing, Safety Procedures, Hours, Admission
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Location
Bernheim is located in Clermont, KY, only 20 miles south of Louisville International Airport. From I-65, take exit 112 and follow the signs. The entrance is approximately one mile from the interstate.ADMISSIONS
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About Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is a 14,000 acre privately-owned non-profit organization nestled in the scenic Kentucky knoblands in Clermont, Kentucky. Bernheim is Kentucky’s Official Arboretum, encompassing a 250 acre nationally-recognized arboretum, landscaped gardens, tranquil lakes, and a 14,000 acre research forest managed as a natural area. Located off of Highway 245 in Clermont, Kentucky, Bernheim is open daily, except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, from 7 a.m. until sunset. The Visitor Center, Art Gallery, and Nature Shop are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Mission & Vistior Center
Our overall mission is to connect people with nature. The Visitor Center helps set the stage for storytelling about sustainability, and great stories are the bedrock of meaningful education. The project helps illuminate the spiritual, biological and economic advantages of living in agreement with nature. We wanted to translate that mission into the design of our Visitor Center and truly blur the distinction between the indoors and the outdoors,” said Claude Stephens, Bernheim’s Education Director. “We want visitors to study our sustainable techniques and see how they can use them in their own homes. From using bio-diesel in our mowers to building ‘green,’ we are exploring a number of environmentally friendly projects at Bernheim.”
History
Isaac W. Bernheim established Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in 1929. I. W. Bernheim (1848-1945) was a German immigrant who settled in Kentucky. From a humble beginning as a peddler, he became successful in the whiskey distilling business where he established the I.W. Harper brand. Grateful for his good fortune, he gave Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest to the people of Kentucky as a gift.
"....I have expressed my intention that said property ... be held in trust ... and said fourteen thousand (14,000) acres be used for a park, for an arboretum, and, under certain conditions, for a museum, all of which are to be developed and forever maintained ... for the people of Kentucky, and their friends, as a place to further their love of the beautiful in nature and in art, and in kindred cultural subjects, and for educational purposes, and as a means of strengthening their love and devotion to their state and country."
--------- I.W. Bernheim
Arts @ Bernheim
The Arts in Nature programs promote multi-disciplinary explorations of our relationship with the natural environment through artistic expression, expanding upon Bernheim’s long history of art in the landscape. The program enhances the visitor experience through interaction with art and artists. It is our hope that the Arts and Nature program provides experiences at Bernheim that revive the spirit and encourage creativity. It creates a focal point where art, nature and people can intersect and coincide, inspiring our deep connections with nature.
Bernheim’s Artist in Residence Program (A New Artist in Residence)
- Sévryna Lupien AIR
Sévryna Lupien recently arrived from Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, to spend two months living and working at Bernheim. She was selected by the 2013-2014 Bernheim Artist in Residence jury. She recently completed her MFA in sculpture in Quebec and plans to create a large outdoor sculptural installation while in residence. Sévryna will be utilizing Lakeside Studio as her work space for the months of May and June. Please stop by and welcome her to our beautiful arboretum and research forest.
Sculptures:
Matt Weir: Earth Measure, fall 2013
Events
Earth Measure beckons the visitor to explore notions of science, geometry, sound, and architecture while deepening one’s connection with nature. Constructed entirely out of solid blocks of limestone, artist Matt Weir chiseled various shapes and details in to the surfaces of the forms over the summer and fall of 2013.
This project is part of Bernheim’s Arts in Nature program and is being created to honor the life of Barry Bingham Jr. who was avid environmentalist, photographer, supporter and fund-raiser for Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. He served on the Bernheim Board of Trustees from 1970-2006. Among the Bingham media holdings, he was the Former publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal and Louisville Times and guided the publication to win three Pulitzer Prizes.
This project is being generously supported by an anonymous donation.
