Drew University, Private university in Madison, New Jersey.
Drew University is a higher education institution on a 75-hectare wooded property in Madison, New Jersey. Academic buildings, research facilities, and botanical gardens spread among the trees and pathways that cross the property.
Daniel Drew founded the institution in 1867 as a theological seminary for the Methodist church. The school gradually expanded its offerings and gained full university status with multiple colleges in 1928.
The campus grew from Methodist traditions when Daniel Drew transformed a summer estate into a theological school. Students and staff often refer to the grounds as "The Forest" because of the dense tree cover surrounding the buildings.
The campus sits in a suburban area roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of New York City, offering walking trails through the wooded grounds. Visitors should bring sturdy shoes for a campus walk, as some paths are uneven and wind through natural areas.
The main university building began as a 19th-century mansion built for a wealthy merchant. The botanical collections include over 600 tree species, some planted before the school was founded.
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