Southwest Federal Center in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
U.S. Department of Energy Newton Apple Tree Clone
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 21, 2026
1. U.S. Department of Energy Newton Apple Tree Clone Marker
Voltaire wrote in his Essay on Epic Poetry (1727), "Sir Isaac Newton walking in his gardens, had the first thought of his system of gravitation, upon seeing an apple falling from a tree."
This tree is a direct descendant of the original tree from Sir Isaac Newton's birthplace and family garden at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, England.
In the late summer of 1666, watching an apple fall from that very tree helped Isaac Newton to question the nature of gravitation.
The tree was grown from a graft of a cloned "Newton Apple Tree" that grows on the grounds of NIST (National Institute of Science and Technology) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which in turn was grown from a graft of the original. We hope the fruit of this descendent inspires others in scientific and technological discovery and innovation.
Planted on October 4, 2022, in commemoration of the U.S. Department of Energy's 45th Anniversary.
Erected 2022 by U.S. Department of Energy.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Horticulture & Forestry • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is October 4, 2022.
Location. 38° 53.234′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Knapp Memorial Arch (within shouting distance of this marker); Seaman A. Knapp (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Knapp Memorial Arch (within shouting distance of this marker); Enid A. Haupt Garden (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Threats to Dragonflies (about 400 feet away); Federal Grain Inspection Service
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 21, 2026
2. U.S. Department of Energy Newton Apple Tree Clone Marker with tree
Other markers no longer nearby. Sunflowers (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); Growing in the Garden (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Growing in the Garden (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Last updated on October 21, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
