Humble in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Borden Oak

Live Oak

— Quercus virginiana —

Borden Oak Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 17, 2026

1. Borden Oak Marker

Inscription. The Borden Oak is one of the few trees that survived the Great Storm of 1900 in Galveston, TX. After the storm, the entire island was raised with sand and shale dredged from Galveston Bay. Thomas Henry Borden ensured the protection of a live oak on his property, known since as the Borden Oak, by constructing a dike around the tree with soil and fresh water to keep out any salt fill. The tree's base now stands about 5 feet below ground level.

This tree is a shoot of the original that was collected on February 28, 2016.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical date for this entry is February 28, 2016.

Location. 30° 2.324′ N, 95° 22.863′ W. Marker is in Humble, Texas, in Harris County. It can be reached from Aldine Westfield Road half a mile north of Treaschwig Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker and tree are in the Mercer Botanic Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Houston TX 77073, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan

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Area.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Prehistoric Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); If Tree Facts Give You a Headache.... (within shouting distance of this marker); The Herb Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Papyrus (Not Just a Font) (within shouting distance of this marker); Endangered Species (within shouting distance of this marker); Thelma Loraine Mercer (within shouting distance of this marker); Rain Gardens in Texas (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Endangered Species (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Humble.

Also see . . . Famous Galveston Tree. From the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy.

Excerpt: "Can
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 17, 2026

2. Borden Oak at Mercer Botanic Gardens
you name the most famous tree in Galveston? Here’s a hint: it survived the Great Storm of 1900 and the subsequent grade raising, plus all the hurricanes and droughts since that time. It is the only tree in town that has its own historical marker and is protected by the Galveston Historical Foundation. That survivor is the Borden Oak, which has outlived many famous trees that have succumbed to the perils of nature."

(Submitted on September 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.