Descendants of an Annapolis tree that patriots gathered beneath during the unrest around the Stamp Act of 1765 will be planted in each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. The original Liberty Tree was a tulip poplar near what is now St. John’s College in Annapolis, and stood at over 120 feet tall before it was lost during Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
Preserving History
Roots from the original tree were preserved and used to make objects, such as crosses gifted to Pope Francis and King Charles III, and a gavel in the Old Senate Chamber of the Maryland State House. The Maryland Liberty Tree Project aims to honor Maryland’s history while creating lasting community assets that future generations will enjoy and care for.
“Foresters think in generations,” Maryland State Forester Anne Hairston-Strang said in a statement. “The trees we plant today will provide benefits for people and wildlife for decades to come.” The project will also support Maryland’s goal of planting 5 million native trees by 2031, with over 1.5 million trees already planted as part of this effort.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
