Lake Buena Vista in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Liberty Tree

By Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

1. The Liberty Tree Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Under the boughs of the original Liberty Tree in Boston in 1765, patriots, calling themselves “The Sons of Liberty,” gathered to protest the imposition of the Stamp Act. In the years that followed, almost every American town had a Liberty Tree – a living symbol of the American Freedom of Speech and Assembly.
Our Liberty Tree is a southern live oak Quercus Virginiana, more than 100 years old.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Colonial Era.

Location. 28° 25.159′ N, 81° 34.943′ W. Marker is in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in Orange County. Marker is located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Orlando FL 32830, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Liberty Bell (a few steps from this marker); Forced Eastward (approx. 3 miles away); Tyrannosaurus Rex (approx. 4.4 miles away); 1887 Windermere Schoolhouse (approx. 5.9 miles away); Windermere Town Hall (approx. 6

By Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

2. The Liberty Tree Marker

miles away); Cal Palmer Memorial Building (approx. 6 miles away); Brick Road (approx. 9.7 miles away); Pounds Motor Company (approx. 10.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Buena Vista.

More about this marker. A bas relief of the Liberty Tree appears on the top of the marker.

Additional comments.
1. Moving the Liberty Tree
When Liberty Square was being constructed, this Live Oak was located on the southern edge of Walt Disney World property. The process of moving this huge tree was a very complex operation. It's immense size and weight made it impossible to use cables to lift it, as this would damage the tree. The solution was to drill two horizontal holes into the largest portion of the trunk, insert dowels into the holes, and lift the tree with a 100 ton crane. Unfortunately, the holes, which had been plugged after the dowels were removed, became infected and started to rot. To remedy this situation, the plugs were removed, the diseased portion cut away, and the holes were filled with cement. The tree has thrived at this location for almost 50 years.

— Submitted August 31, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.

Marker in Liberty Square image. Click for full size.

By Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

3. Marker in Liberty Square

The Liberty Tree and Marker image. Click for full size.

By Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

4. The Liberty Tree and Marker

The Liberty Tree image. Click for full size.

By Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

5. The Liberty Tree

This tree is over 160 years old and weighs approximately 35 tons. It was moved to this location from a nearby site in the early 1970s.

Lanterns on the Liberty Tree image. Click for full size.

By Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

6. Lanterns on the Liberty Tree

Patriots hung lanterns from the limbs of Liberty Trees after the Boston Tea Party in 1773. There are 13 lanterns on this tree to represent the original 13 colonies.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 495 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 31, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.