Americus in Sumter County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Washington Elm Tree
Erected by Sons of the American Revolution.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Historic Trees 🌲, and the Sons of the American Revolution series lists.
Location. 32° 4.357′ N, 84° 14.35′ W. Marker is in Americus, Georgia, in Sumter County. Marker is on West Lamar Street (Georgia Route 27) 0.1 miles west of South Dudley Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located adjacent to the parking lot in front of the new Sumter County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 West Lamar Street, Americus GA 31709, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Welcome to Asia/Pacific (approx. 0.2 miles away); Poverty Housing: A Global Epidemic (approx. 0.2 miles away); Deadly Insects (approx. 0.2 miles away); How blocks are made (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to Latin America/Caribbean (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to Africa/Middle East (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Hospitals (approx. 0.3 miles away); Americus Colored Hospital (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Americus.
Regarding Washington Elm Tree. The elm tree does not appear to be standing, and the terrain was substantially modified when the new courthouse was constructed. The marker may have been relocated due to that construction.
John H. Gray, the postmaster of Shelton, Washington at the time, presented the tree for planting on the courthouse lawn in January 1967. The marker may also date from that time.
When the original tree in Cambridge died in 1923, root shoots were sent to locations throughout the nation, and some of them still thrive, including offshoots of those decedents.
Today, historians believe the story of the Washington Elm is a myth.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. — Site of the original Washington Elm in Cambridge.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 515 times since then and 8 times this year. Last updated on September 5, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 25, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.