East Hempfield Township near Lancaster in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lancaster County's "Old Sycamore"
(Platanus Occidentalis)
This sycamore was here when the colony of Pennsylvania was "Penns Woods". The tree is situated on land that was part of a 1718 Penn grant, deeded by Penn to the early settlers.
Documented over the centuries: "Pennsylvania's Most Massive Tree" "The oldest sycamore in Pennsylvania" “A more heroic sight would be hard to find in the world of trees"
The state forestry department in Harrisburg, PA estimated the tree to be over 250 years old in 1900. Measuring 27 feet in circumference, the main trunk has been visibly hollow since it was hit by lightning in 1957. The Pennsylvania Forestry Assoc. recognized it as over 300 years old in 1982. Monumental Trees documented the girth as 25 feet (or 7.62 meters) in 2014.
265 Plane Tree Dr, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603 Dedicated by AKA Worldwide Arbor Day, April 27, 2018
Erected 2018 by AKA Worldwide.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Horticulture & Forestry.
Location. 40° 3.046′ N, 76° 23.419′ W. Marker is near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. It is in East Hempfield Township. Marker is on Plane Tree Dr., 0.1 miles Old Tree Dr, on the right when traveling north . Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 265 Plane Tree Dr, Lancaster PA 17603, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mountville (approx. 1.7 miles away); 1717 (approx. 2.1 miles away); In Grateful Memory (approx. 2.2 miles away); Lancaster Area Refuse Authority (approx. 2.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2˝ miles away); Pennsylvania Rifle (approx. 2˝ miles away); Lancaster Brick Company (approx. 2˝ miles away); Landis Mill Covered Bridge (1873) (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lancaster.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2021, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 736 times since then and 143 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 6, 2021, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.