The National Mall in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sheltering Branches
The Live Oak
Look up. The branches above you belong to the Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana), also known simply as the live oak. This tree gets its name because it's evergreen; unlike other oaks, it doesn't lose its leaves in the autumn. The live oak does more than just provide shade; it serves as as habitat for hundreds of living organisms, including mammals, birds, insects, and other plants.
Live Oak Facts
★ Live oaks can grown to be as tall as 65 feet with branches that can spread to be more than 90 feet widethat's the length of two tour buses!
★ The oldest live oaks in the United States are estimated to be between several hundred to more than a thousand years old.
★ Wood from live oaks is incredibly tough and durable and was used to make some of the world's finest ships.
An Enduring Symbol
For centuries, the live oak has been a symbol of safety, strength, and resilience. For some enslaved African Americans, live oaks provided shade and shelter while toiling in the fields. They served as gathering places for meetings and religious services, and they furnished durable timber, which
this page online
Today, Smithsonian Gardens works with other organizations to preserve live oaks as an important part of our shared cultural and ecological heritage.
Erected by Smithsonian Gardens, Smithsonian Institution.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 38° 53.444′ N, 77° 1.989′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. It is on 15th Street Northwest 0.1 miles south of Constitution Avenue Northwest (U.S. 50), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 150 15th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Garden Exhibits at the Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Gardening as a Freedom-Making Practice (within shouting distance of this marker); Live Oaks: A Symbol of Strength (within shouting distance of this marker); Live Oaks: Specimens of Global, Scholarly and Public Research (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Live Oaks: A Gathering Place (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Sheltering Branches (about 300 feet away); A Monumental Legacy (about 300 feet away); Washington City Canal on the Tiber Creek (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Other markers no longer nearby. Pippin's Garden (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named A Monumental Legacy (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. An identical marker stands a few feet away.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 7, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
