Prince William Forest Park in Triangle in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Saplings of Hope
Prince William Forest Park
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
One hundred years ago, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was the most abundant tree in the eastern United States, making up 25% of the forest. Its high-protein chestnuts provided food for humans, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, and the now-extinct passenger pigeon. The American chestnut die-off was swift and extensive, altering economies and ecosystems dependent on the tree's many by-products.
The trees before you represent our heritage and hope for the future. Now imported plants are held in quarantine to prevent the spread of diseases like the chestnut blight. You can help by selecting native species to plant in your yard. Someday you may be able to choose a blight-resistant, hybrid American chestnut.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Natural Resources.
Location. 38° 33.549′ N, 77° 20.924′ W. Marker is in Triangle, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is in Prince William Forest Park. Marker is on Park Entrance Road just north of Scenic Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Almost Extinct (here, next to this marker); Flowering Dogwood (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Piedmont Forest Trail (about 400 feet away); Eastern Red Cedar (about 500 feet away); Black Gum (about 500 feet away); Historic Preservation and Maintenance (about 500 feet away); A Tradition of Conservation (about 500 feet away); Chestnut Oak (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Triangle.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 86 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 7, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
