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 wide—that'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 African Americans harvested and made into ships.
Today, Smithsonian Gardens works
this page online
Erected by Smithsonian Gardens, Smithsonian Institution.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Churches & Religion • Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 38° 53.496′ N, 77° 1.984′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. Marker is at the intersection of Constitution Avenue Northwest (U.S. 50) and 15th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east on Constitution Avenue Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC 20560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Live Oaks: A Gathering Place (a few steps from this marker); Live Oaks: A Symbol of Strength (a few steps from this marker); Live Oaks: Specimens of Global, Scholarly and Public Research (a few steps from this marker); Washington City Canal on the Tiber Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); Washington Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different
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 November 27, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 61 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 27, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
