The Great White Oak

The tree above was designated the "Becentennial Tree" by a National Arborists Association member tree care company in the area.The designation and recognition was given as a means of drawing attention to the importance of trees and their significance in history.

This specific tree was recognized because it was known to have been growing at the time of the signing of the United States Constitution. It was given the Bicentennial Tree status In 1987, the first of four years the award was given out. The recognition program ran from 1987, the bicentennial of the creation of the constitution, until 1991, the bicentennial of its ratification.

Only a few trees across the entire United States received this official status. However, there is not a scarcity of elligable trees, but a significant lack of companies willing to dedicate the time nessecary to sponser the recognition program.

Theese trees are not non-existant though. The same year, a similar oak tree was recognized in Washington D.C. The tree is located on the Naval Observatory grounds, the official D.C. residence of Vice President of the United States. Both George Sr. and Barbra Bush were present at the dedication cerimonies.

Thank you to Peter Gerstenberger and the National Arborists Association (Tree Care Industry Association).

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Plaque commerating the tree. The plaque is on a peice of granite under the tree.

"The National Arborist Association and the International Society of Arboriculture jointly recognize this significant tree in this bicentennial year as having been here at the time of the signing of our constitution."