Success Stories
Millennium Landmark Trees
America the Beautiful Fund initiated the Millennium Landmark Tree project in the year 2000, with the goal of designating one historic tree in each of the 50 states for preservation in the new Millennium.
This program was supported by a grant from the US Forest Service as part of the White House Millennium Green Initiative. Individuals and their communities were encouraged to seek out the history of the trees in their area, and send a letter describing the type of tree they would like to nominate as well as any historical information pertaining to the tree.
The program was extremely successful in awakening public interest in preserving and protecting these Landmark Trees, which have stood witness to the historic growth of our country.
Once were designated as Landmark Trees, the community received a plaque and certificate, from America the Beautiful Fund, which was presented at a public ceremony attended by members of Congress, the media, local public officials and members of the community.
President Bill Clinton thanks America the Beautiful President, Nanine Bilski, for planting 2000 Millennium Gardens and recognizing a Millennium Landmark Tree in each state at the White House Christmas Party in 2000.
The following is a brief description of the Millennium Landmark Trees:
Alabama
The Huntsville Botanical Garden’s majestic 125-year-old Flowering Dogwood, which was relocated in 1995 through a community effort to save it from destruction.
Alaska
The 200-year-old Kodiac Spruce Tree at the historic Russian American Fur Trading Warehouse in Sitka.
Arizona
The Blue Palo Verde Grove at the Phoenix State Capital Building predates the statehood of Arizona.
Arkansas
The Council Oak in Dardanelle is where the Osage, Cherokee and Quapaw Indians met. The April 1820 Treaty between Gov. Crittendon and Black Fox of the Cherokee Nation was signed under this oak.
California
The Star Pine trees located in front of the San Buenaventura Mission, a part of California’s settlement history and historic California Mission Trail and also known as the tallest Christmas trees in the world. These trees were a gift to the Mission in the early 1880’s to Father Cyprian Rubio, the Mission Pastor from philanthropist E.P. Foster, and they were originated from Norfolk Island, between Australia and New Zealand.
Colorado
This cottonwood tree is an historic meeting place of the three Ute Tribes. Chief Ouray and his braves met there with white settlers to smoke the pipe of peace and settle their differences from 1857-1882 at the Landmark Tree ceremony. The three Ute tribes came together for this Pow Wow celebration for the first time since leaving the area over 100 years ago.
Connecticut
Gifford Pinchot is considered by his hometown of Simsbury as the “Father of Conservation” in America. The Pinchot Sycamore in Simsbury is the largest sycamore in America.
Delaware
The New Castle Catalpa Tree was saved from development, and is the second largest Catalpa on record. It rests in the downtown of the historic district.
District of Columbia
The Tulip Poplar at Tudor Place in Georgetown has stood on the grounds of the Peter family estate for six generations. Over the course of more than 200 years it has towered over the development of Georgetown from farms and fields into an urban center in our nation’s capital.
Florida
The Banyan Tree at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida was honored at the National Arbor Day Celebration on April 2000. The tree was given as a gift from Thomas Edison to Harvey Firestone, who gave it to John and Mable Ringling for their Florida garden to see if rubber could be produced in America.
Georgia
The largest Holly tree in America graces a private residence in Atlanta, where it has witnessed Atlanta’s history for over 100 years.
Hawaii
In 1904, Jared Smith, the Director of the USDA Experiment Station planted this Banyan Tree on the hotel grounds. The Banyan tree became the focal point of the cool, beachfront courtyard where it provided shade by day and a romantic setting by night with its filtered starlight or moonlight. The Banyan Courtyard became the home for the famous radio show “Hawaii Calls” which was broadcast from there between 1935 and 1975.
Idaho
The Hailey birthplace of poet Ezra Pound contains a “Tree of Knowledge,” an ancient Apple Tree that he played under as a child.
Illinois
The James Morton Arboretum’s White Oak pre-dates the Illinois settlement and 1818 statehood designation and is the state tree. It is estimated to be 200-300 years old. The tree stands in an area where community founders recall having seen Native American (Potawatomi) temporary encampments.
Indiana
The majestic Oak has graced the lawn of the President Benjamin Harrison Home since the home’s completion in 1875. The mighty oak has a trunk with a circumference of almost 14 feet around. [more]
Iowa
The Henry Wallace House’s Oak Tree in Des Moines. Young Henry Wallace walked by this tree on his way to school before going on to serve as Secretary of Agriculture (1932-1940), Vice President (1940-1944) and Secretary of Commerce (1945-1946).
Kentucky
The Owensboro Sassafras was so important to residents that Mrs. O.W. Rash stood with shotgun in hand in 1957 to prevent construction that threatened the tree. Governor A.B. Happy Chandler finally resolved the situation by having a retaining wall built for the protection of the tree, which is still thriving after 300 years.
Louisiana
The Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie contains 28 Live Oaks that took root before the 1718 founding of New Orleans, and have witnessed the rise and fall of fortunes in Louisiana. [more]
Maine
The Phippsburg English Linden was planted before the Revolutionary War for lumber for shipbuilding. It witnessed battles during the Revolutionary War and The War of 1812 from its home on a cliff overlooking the Kennebunk River.
Maryland
The Goshen Elm in Gaithersburg is the largest Elm Tree in America. It was brought from England in the mid-1700s, and has inspired a huge community base of support to stop road encroachment that threatened its root system with a new shopping mall. [more]
Massachusetts
A single Yellow Wood Tree survives in President John Adam’s formal garden in Quincy. His son President John Quincy Adams wrote poetry about this tree.
Michigan
The Detroit 300th Anniversary Celebration honored a Green Ash that is believed to be as old as the city.
Mississippi
Rust College, a historic Black College, in Holly Springs, has a Cedar Tree in front of the Oakview Mansion. The front porch of the Mansion was originally used as a slave auction site prior to the Civil War and the founding of Rust College in 1868.
Missouri
Chesterfield Green Grove was honored as part of the Millennium Arbor Day celebration. The grove contains a variety of tree species, many estimated to have been planted pre-Civil War.
Montana
Historic Ft. Missoula contains a parade route of 150-year-old fir trees that now surround the Fort which is now a volunteer operated living history museum.
Nebraska
The Morton Bur Oak in Lincoln was once a part of the pre-settlement ecosystem known as “oak savannas.” It is now used in this prairie environment as a shelter for outdoor classrooms and special events at the National Arbor Day Foundation Headquarters.
Nevada
The Turbnella Oak in the historic Red Rock tourist area is between 200-600 years old and witnessed the settlement patterns of the west.
New Hampshire
The only remaining tree in front of The Moffatt-Ladd House in Portsmouth which once had a row of Horse Chestnuts Trees that were planted from acorns William Whipple had picked up after signing the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776.
New Jersey
The Great Salem Oak was already mature when John Fenwick signed his treaty with the Lenni Lenape Indians to start the Quaker Settlement there in 1753. It was honored during the town’s 325th Anniversary.
New Mexico
The eighteen Long Walk Cottonwood Trees, starting in Ft. Sumner and continuing along the Pecos River to Santa Fe, were planted in 1864 when the US Army forced 800 Navajos to march 300 miles from the Navajo Nation. In 2000, children from the Navajo Nation came to Ft. Sumner to replant some of the fallen trees and honor the trees that survived.
New York
The Balmville Tree in Newburgh is the oldest known Eastern Cottonwood. It has been visited by Presidents from George Washington to FDR and stands across from the Blacksmith shop where the great chain across the Hudson was forged in the Revolutionary War. It stands in the smallest State Forest in America.
North Carolina
Old Salem Oak is the centerpiece of the Old Salem Village.
Ohio
The town of Chesapeake planted “Boxcar Trees” to replace the trees they cut for their wartime effort of constructing wooden boxcars to send supplies to troop ships during World War II.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma City Federal Building that was the scene of the tragic bomb attack had a single tree survive in front of the property. This tree, now called “The Survivor Tree,” has been propagated for the families of those that perished in the bombing and for the survivors.
Oregon
The 150-year-old Cortesia Center Fir Tree is on the site of one of the earliest Oregon homesteads along the Oregon Trail.
Pennsylvania
The Historic Bartram Garden in Philadelphia has America’s first Ginko Tree. This was given as a gift to John Bartram from the French arborist, William Hamilton, to begin the Bartram Garden Arboretum.
Rhode Island
The Betsey William’s Sycamore in Providence has stood on the lawn of the Williams’ Family Homestead next to Roger William’s Monument for 150 years where it was planted by Roger William’s great, great, great granddaughter Betsey.
South Carolina
The Angel Oak on John’s Island in Historic Charleston. This Live Oak is believed to be 1,400 years old!
Tennessee
The McNulty Grove is the last remaining virgin grove of timber in Tennessee as the area has been heavily lumbered over the past 200 years. It stands in the historic town of Bolivar, the home of President Polk.
Texas
The Oak Tree in front of the LBJ Ranch in Austin is where President Johnson met with his Cabinet when they visited him at the “Summer White House”.
Utah
The Salt Lake City Fremont Poplar rests in Fremont Park. It was once Brigham Young’s farm, and in 1863, he planted his walking stick into the ground by the river and this tree grew from it.
Vermont
The William Dean Fausett home in Dorset is the site where Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys met. The home was the site of several conventions to decide if Vermont would join the Revolution of 1776 and declare Vermont’s Independence.
Virginia
Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, has a tulip poplar that predates the building of Monticello and Jefferson referred to as the “Juno of my garden.” It inspired him to plant trees from all over the world on his farm.
West Virginia
Berkeley Springs is the home to natural hot springs, where Native Americans gathered to make peace in the healing waters. The area was originally surveyed by the young George Washington, and became a famous 18th century spa and resort because of the springs. Now a State Park, the Landmark Tree is the 250-year-old sycamore tree growing over the spring George Washington discovered.
Wisconsin
The Dougan Round Barn in Beloit has the 200-year-old Midway Tree, a Native American marker tree that is exactly halfway between Minneapolis and Chicago on the old Indian Trail.
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