Red Butte Garden and Arboretum in Salt Lake City, operated by the University of Utah, grew from plant research begun in 1930 by Dr. Walter P. Cottam on campus land in the foothills near Red Butte Canyon. Formally recognized as the State Arboretum in 1961, it expanded under later leadership into a regional botanical garden dedicated not only to horticultural display, but also to conservation, environmental education, and public understanding of trees and plants. Opened to the public in 1985, it now combines display gardens, hiking trails, native vegetation, and community-supported facilities, serving as a major public garden and learning landscape.