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

The Liberty Tree

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

1. The Liberty Tree Marker

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. A significant historical year for this entry is 1765.

Location. 28° 25.159′ N, 81° 34.943′ W. Marker is in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in Orange County. It can be reached from Florida. 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Orlando

and in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

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it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named The Liberty Tree (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named The Liberty Bell (a few steps from this marker); Tom Sawyer Island (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sharing the Magic (approx. 0.2 miles away); Visit Carousel of Progress (approx. ¼ mile away); Forced Eastward (approx. 3 miles away); Live Oak (approx. 3.6 miles away); The Legend of Ol' Man Island (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Buena Vista.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Liberty Bell (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

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

Additional commentary.
1. Moving the Liberty Tree
When Liberty Square was being constructed, this Live Oak was located on the southern edge of

Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 6, 2017

2. The Liberty Tree Marker

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 Woodland Park, New Jersey.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

3. The Liberty Tree Marker

Marker in Liberty Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

4. Marker in Liberty Square

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

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

5. The Liberty Tree and Marker

The Liberty Tree image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

6. 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.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 28, 2014

7. 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 January 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,139 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 31, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on January 9, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 31, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.