Dunloggin in Ellicott City in Howard County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The White Oak

(Quercus alba)

Photographed by Pete Skillman, July 25, 2025

1. The White Oak Marker

Inscription. The White Oak is the Maryland state tree. The oldest White oak in the US. stood for over 450 years in the village of Wye, MD. It was over 31 feet around and 96 feet tall. In 2002, it toppled during a thunderstorm. This remarkable tree showed unusual resistance to oak wilt fungus and gypsy moths.

The venerable Wye Oak was cloned by Dr. Frank Gouin of the U. of MD. He replicated the oak's genes by grafting buds from the tree onto seedlings from its own acorns. This is one of two seedlings from the Wye Oak's acorns tree planted in the Whipps Garden Cemetery.

Erected by Whipps Garden Cemetery. (Marker Number 14.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 2002.

Location. 39° 16.105′ N, 76° 49.627′ W. Marker is in Ellicott City, Maryland, in Howard County. It is in Dunloggin. It can be reached from Saint Johns Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3651 St Johns Ln, Ellicott City MD 21042, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central

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Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cemetery Plant Traditions in the 1800s (a few steps from this marker); International Order of Odd Fellows (a few steps from this marker); Our Restoration Story (within shouting distance of this marker); Health Conditions in the 1800's (within shouting distance of this marker); Samuel Whipps (within shouting distance of this marker); MacAlpine (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. John’s Episcopal Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Koreatown (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellicott City.

Also see . . . Whipps Garden Cemetery.

The Whipps Garden Cemetery educates and inspires Howard County residents to preserve old cemeteries as a small community park, showcasing local history and culture
Photographed by Pete Skillman, July 25, 2025

2. The White Oak Marker - wide view
in the style of the famous garden cemeteries of the 19th century. At the Whipps Garden Cemetery, Howard County Master Gardeners and community volunteers plant and maintain heritage and native species in a variety of different settings, interspersed by pathways, benches and angels around the tombstones. Many plants are typical of those grown in Maryland gardens of the 1800s.

(Submitted on July 25, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)

The White Oak Marker - tree itself image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, July 25, 2025

3. The White Oak Marker - tree itself

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 25, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.