Southern live oak
''Quercus virginiana'', also known as the southern live oak, is an evergreen oak tree endemic to the Southeastern United States. Though many other species are loosely called live oak, the southern live oak is particularly iconic of the Old South. ...
(''Quercus virginiana'') in
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
Downtown Jacksonville
Downtown Jacksonville is the historic core and central business district (CBD) of Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It comprises the earliest area of the city to be developed and is located in its geographic center along the narrowing point ...
.
The name
The name's origin is generally believed to be related to local apocryphal stories about peace accords between Native Americans and
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas
**Spanish cuisine
**Spanish history
**Spanish culture
...
or American settlers that were signed under its branches. In the 1930s, the name and history were created by journalist Pat Moran of the ''
Florida Times-Union
''The Florida Times-Union'' is a daily newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Widely known as the oldest newspaper in the state, it began publication as the ''Florida Union'' in 1864. Its current incarnation started in 1883, when t ...
.'' In an attempt to rescue the tree from being destroyed by developers, he wrote an article claiming a treaty had been signed at the site by indigenous Floridians and early European settlers and called it the Treaty Oak.Waymarking dot com: Jessie Ball duPont Park – Jacksonville, Florida /ref> Prior to that, the tree was known simply as Giant Oak. /ref>
The tree
The tree has a trunk over 25 feet in circumference, it rises to height of 70 feet, and its crown spreads over 145 feet, with twisting branches that bow to the ground and curl back up. The oak shades a roughly circular area, about 190 feet in diameter.
In 1986,
JEA
JEA is a municipal utility providing safe, reliable and affordable services to more than one million residents across four Northeast Florida counties. JEA is not owned by investors and does not earn a profit. It was created by the City of Jacks ...
began an important preservation program which grows seedlings from Treaty Oak acorns and makes them available through Greenscape for replanting throughout the city. Since the program was implemented, hundreds of seedlings have been planted, ensuring the legacy of the regal Jacksonville landmark.
A major project was completed in 1995 to preserve the tree and enhance the park, which was completed through the efforts of the city and private groups and individuals. Cables were installed in the tree to support limbs that threatened to damage the trunk, and a lightning protection system was installed.
In 2006, the
Jessie Ball duPont Fund
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund, "Florida's leading national foundation", is a charitable foundation that issues grants to organizations that received support from Jessie Ball duPont between 1960 and 1964. When she died on September 26, 1970, the b ...
The tree is located in Jessie Ball duPont Park, a park on the south side of the
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River () is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and is the most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders 12 counties. The drop in elevation from River s ...
in downtown Jacksonville. Most of the land surrounding the tree was the location of the Dixieland Amusement Park, which opened in 1907. During that time, the tree was festooned with electric lights and witnessed
Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional Baseball in the United States, baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nickna ...
playing baseball and
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa ( , ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic music, Romantic era known primarily for American military March (music), marches. He is known as "The March King" or th ...
performing a concert.
In the 1930s, the Garden Club of Jacksonville and Pat Moran began efforts to raise awareness and preserve the tree, which was targeted by developers. The land was soon purchased by the Alfred I. duPont Testamentary Trust at the request of
Jessie Ball duPont
Jessie Ball duPont (January 20, 1884 – September 26, 1970) was an American teacher, philanthropist and designated a Great Floridians, Great Floridian by the Florida Department of State.Friendship Fountain website: Treaty Oak info /ref>
The city acquired additional property now included in the park, and the preserve was named in honor of Jessie Ball duPont, an ardent philanthropist and part-time Jacksonville resident, after her death in 1970. It is ironic that the smallest nature park in Jacksonville has the largest tree. The park contains paved walkpaths, a score of benches, a handful of picnic tables and informational plaques. It is a favorite spot for workers in nearby buildings who eat lunch, read a book or just sit and converse in the shade of its canopy.
See also
*
List of individual trees
The following is a list of individual trees. Trees listed here are regarded as important or specific by their historical, national, locational, natural or mythological context. The list includes actual trees located throughout the world, as we ...