Linden Oak

The Linden Oak was a large white oak tree in North Bethesda, Maryland, beside the junction of Rockville Pike and Rock Creek Park's Beach Drive. In 1976, the Linden Oak was proclaimed a Maryland Bicentennial Tree because it "stood its ground, survived the American Revolution, and continues to serve an appreciative nation." In 1978, a Maryland state agency estimated that it was seeded in 1718.[1] It died in 2022 and was removed in July 2023.[2]

Linden Oak
Photo of Linden Oak in May 2007
Linden Oak, May 2007
SpeciesWhite oak (Quercus alba)
LocationNorth Bethesda, Maryland
Coordinates39°01′22″N 77°06′08″W
Date seededc. 1718 (1718)[1]
Date felledJuly 18, 2023 (2023-07-18)[2]
CustodianMaryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission[1]

Significance

The origin of the name "Linden Oak" is unknown. It was ranked among the tallest white oak trees in the United States. According to the 2011 National Register of Big Trees,[3] a tree in Indiana with a height of 110 feet (34 m) and a crown spread of 138 feet (42 m) was the largest white oak in the country. As of February 2008, the Linden Oak was 97 feet (30 m) with a crown spread of 132 feet (40 m) when measured in by the Maryland Big Tree Program.[4]

To preserve the tree, the county directed the realignment of the Red Line in an arc around the tree at a cost of $2 million and $4 million.[5]

The impressiveness of the great tree diminished in 2020 when it lost an enormous branch.[5] By spring of 2022 the tree had died at an estimated age of over 300 years.[6] One of the on-site plaques incorporates a photo of the tree in its former state. Local government and civic groups discussed with the park service ways to honor the Linden Oak's place in the community history.[7]

On June 10, 2023, officials said that the tree would be removed during the week of June 12, 2023, citing safety concerns. The tree's lower trunk will remain onsite as a memorial following its removal, and a portion of the tree's wood will be made into a sculpture by a local chainsaw artist.[6] Montgomery Parks later postponed the removal until early- to mid-July pending a Historic Area Work Permit.[8][9] The tree was removed on July 18, 2023.[2]

  • The Linden Oak Tree 2020
    The Linden Oak Tree 2020
  • The dead Linden Oak on July 2, 2023, shortly before it was removed
    The dead Linden Oak on July 2, 2023, shortly before it was removed
  • The stump of the Linden Oak on July 19, 2023, after the bulk of the tree was removed
    The stump of the Linden Oak on July 19, 2023, after the bulk of the tree was removed

Plaques

The Linden Oak is acknowledged by three on-site plaques.

  • The first plaque, placed in July 1976 by the Maryland Bicentennial Commission and the Maryland Forest Service, celebrates the "Maryland Bicentennial Tree" for its great age.[1][10]
  • The second plaque, placed by the Montgomery County Department of Parks (also 1976) celebrates the "Linden Oak" as "the fourth largest of its species in the state of Maryland and the largest in Montgomery County". An age of over 250 years, height of over 95 feet (29 m) and crown spread of over 132 feet (40 m) are cited.[10]
  • The third plaque, placed by the Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning (no date), honors Idamae Garrott, a local politician and champion of the environment. Owing to her efforts in 1973, the adjacent stretch of the Washington Metro (Red Line) was built in an arc diverting around the tree to avoid disturbing it.[10][11][12]

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Linden Oak.
  • Wye Oak, a larger white oak in Wye Mills, Maryland, that was destroyed by high winds in 2002.
  • Arbutus Oak, another white oak tree in Arbutus, Maryland, that was saved during the construction of Interstate 95.
  • List of individual trees.

References
  1. ""Linden Oak" (PDF). Maryland State Archives. November 27, 1978. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  2. Lukert, Luke (July 18, 2023). "An oak standing since America's birth comes down after its death in Montgomery Co". WTOP News. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  3. Eberwein, Mary Beth (2011). "Eastern White Oak (Quercus alba)". American Forests. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012.
  4. "Big Tree Champions of Maryland". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. Fenston, Jacob. "The Linden Oak was spared during Metro construction. Now it will be chainsaw art". NPR. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  6. Griffin, Elia (June 10, 2023). "Say goodbye to the county's 300-year-old white oak tree this weekend". MoCo360. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  7. "Parkwood Residents Association Listserve, Montgomery County, MD - Google Groups".
  8. "Montgomery Parks postpones removal of Linden Oak Tree". Montgomery Parks. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  9. Griffin, Elia (June 30, 2023). "Removal of the historic Linden Oak postponed to early, mid-July". MoCo360. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  10. "2013 Register of Champion Trees" (PDF). Montgomery County Forest Conservancy District Board. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2014.
  11. Churchville, Victoria (August 24, 1984). "Sweeping Vista Featured: Special Features Give Grosvenor Station Distinctive Character". The Washington Post. p. C1. ProQuest 138213877.
  12. Perez-Rivas, Manuel (August 23, 2001). "Going Out on a Limb To Save County Trees". The Washington Post. p. ME12. ProQuest 409172800. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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