Vanishing Acts digital exhibit

Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat
The digital exhibit Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat is a compelling look at threatened and endangered trees and the importance of taking action to save them. The exhibit is installed in the Morton Arboretum's Conifer Collection and has traveled to other public gardens and arboreta both in the United States and internationally.
 

Vanishing Acts was created by The Morton Arboretum in partnership with the Global Trees Campaign and was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.
 

Digital Exhibit Includes:

  • 17 digital interpretive panels
  • Professional promotional materials
  • Ready-to-use program ideas
  • Content that appeals to all ages

 

Order Vanishing Acts

For more information call 630-719-2416 or email vanishingacts@mortonarb.org. 

Sliding scale pricing is available. 

Here are resources for public gardens and arboreta hosting Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat, a digital exhibit created by The Morton Arboretum in partnership with the Global Trees Campaign and was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.


Vanishing Acts Interpretive Resources

The Morton Arboretum has gathered interpretation resources to help your visitors better utilize the Vanishing Acts digital exhibit. They'll learn more about globally endangered trees, the efforts underway to protect them, and simple actions we can all take to promote tree conservation.

Guide to Threatened Trees

Read in-depth explorations of all trees featured in the exhibit within the Vanishing Acts Resource Guide, or, choose separate sections below.

PDF iconVanishing Acts Resource Guide (PDF)

Introduction Guide

The Vanishing Acts Introduction Guide includes the following sections

  • Why save endangered trees?
  • Evaluating the threats
  • What are the threats to trees? 

  Vanishing Acts Resource Guide Intro (PDF)

Individual Tree Guides:

 

Walking Tour Guide

Walking Tour Step-by-Step Guide: Guidelines for creating a custom tour of endangered plants at your site.  Vanishing Acts Walking Tour Guide (PDF)

 

Podcasts—Vanishing Acts Voices

These downloadable audio files feature stories and interviews about endangered trees. Hear experts explain threats, trees, and action taken.

Listen. Audio iconRediscovering the Dawn Redwood.
Interview with Kunso Kim

Listen. Audio iconWhy Are Scientists Collecting Seeds? 
Interview with Kris Bachtell, Vice President of Collections and Facilities at The Morton Arboretum. 

Listen. Audio iconDinosaur Trees
What did trees look like during the age of dinosaurs? Do any species from that era survive today?

Listen. Audio iconMagnolia Crisis   
Learn about the crisis facing magnolias and what is being done to save them.

Listen. Audio iconDiscovering the Wollemi Pine. 
Hear how trekker David Noble discovered a living stand of Wollemi pines in Australia in 1994. 

Outro: Action for the Future

The Vanishing Acts concludes with action plans for the future, the document includes the following sections:

  • Conserving Trees for our Future
  • How Can You Help?
  •  Acknowledgements and Additional Resources

 Vanishing Acts Resource Guide Outro (PDF)

 

PDF iconTake Action Guide (PDF)e

 

Learn more about our interpretative lesson plan focused on the importance of endangered trees. A teacher's guide, and other resources, are available for this unique exhibit. Find lesson plans for grades Pre-K through 12. 
 

Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat was developed and produced by The Morton Arboretum in association with the Global Trees Campaign, a partnership between Fauna and Flora International and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

Funding for this exhibit came from The Morton Arboretum and the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services, Museums for America Grant Program.