Angel Oak is a Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) located in Angel Oak Park on Johns Island near Charleston, South Carolina. The tree is estimated to be 400–500 years old.[1] It stands 66.5 ft (20 m) tall, measures 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet (1,600 m2). Its longest branch distance is 187 ft[2] in length. Angel Oak was the 210th tree to be registered with the Live Oak Society.[3][4][5]
The oak derives its name from the estate of Justus Angel and his wife, Martha Waight Tucker Angel.[6] Local folklore tells stories of ghosts of former enslaved people appearing as angels around the tree.[7][8]
Despite the claims that the Angel Oak is the oldest tree east of the Mississippi River, bald cypress trees throughout North and South Carolina are[9] significantly older. One example in North Carolina is over 1,600 years old.
History
Ferns and other greenery grow along the tree's massive limbs
Angel Oak was damaged severely during Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but has since recovered.[10] The City of Charleston has owned the tree and surrounding park since 1991.[11]
Development is beginning to encroach on the site of Angel Oak. In 2012, plans to build a 500-unit apartment complex that would be 160 yards (150 m) from Angel Oak were challenged in court by a group called Save the Angel Oak and the Coastal Conservation League; their concerns included the construction's effect on available groundwater and nutrients.[12] By December, 2013, the Lowcountry Land Trust, celebrated [13] "the preservation of 17 acres adjacent to the majestic tree." The 17 acres adjacent to the Angel Oak were purchased by Lowcountry Land Trust, protecting the area from development.
The Angel Oak features prominently in the book The Heart of A Child by Emily Nelson.[14]
The Angel Oak was the focal point of an Allstate television ad in September 2018 saluting the strength of the Carolinas following the devastation of Hurricane Florence.[15]
^Angel Oak Preserve Celebration A Success, The Lowcountry Land Trust, December 20, 2013
^Stefan Andrews. "The 400-year-old Angel Oak is one of the most remarkable living things east of the Mississippi". The Vintage News. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
^"Allstate TV Commercial, 'Still Standing'". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
Sources
Samuels, Gayle Brandow (1999). Enduring Roots: Encounters with Trees, History and the American Landscape. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. ISBN0-585-31062-9.
Perry, Lee Tom (2007). Insiders' guide to Charleston: including Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, Kiawah, and other islands. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press. ISBN0-7627-4403-0.
January 25, 2023
angel, southern, live, quercus, virginiana, located, park, johns, island, near, charleston, south, carolina, tree, estimated, years, stands, tall, measures, circumference, produces, shade, that, covers, square, feet, longest, branch, distance, length, 210th, t. Angel Oak is a Southern live oak Quercus virginiana located in Angel Oak Park on Johns Island near Charleston South Carolina The tree is estimated to be 400 500 years old 1 It stands 66 5 ft 20 m tall measures 28 ft 8 5 m in circumference and produces shade that covers 17 200 square feet 1 600 m2 Its longest branch distance is 187 ft 2 in length Angel Oak was the 210th tree to be registered with the Live Oak Society 3 4 5 Angel OakAngel Oak Johns Island South CarolinaSpeciesSouthern live oak Quercus virginiana LocationJohns Island South Carolina USCoordinates32 43 02 N 80 04 50 W 32 71709 N 80 08043 W 32 71709 80 08043 Coordinates 32 43 02 N 80 04 50 W 32 71709 N 80 08043 W 32 71709 80 08043Websitehttp www angeloaktree com Contents 1 Background 2 History 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground Edit Angel Oak in March 2010 The oak derives its name from the estate of Justus Angel and his wife Martha Waight Tucker Angel 6 Local folklore tells stories of ghosts of former enslaved people appearing as angels around the tree 7 8 Despite the claims that the Angel Oak is the oldest tree east of the Mississippi River bald cypress trees throughout North and South Carolina are 9 significantly older One example in North Carolina is over 1 600 years old History Edit Ferns and other greenery grow along the tree s massive limbs Angel Oak was damaged severely during Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but has since recovered 10 The City of Charleston has owned the tree and surrounding park since 1991 11 Development is beginning to encroach on the site of Angel Oak In 2012 plans to build a 500 unit apartment complex that would be 160 yards 150 m from Angel Oak were challenged in court by a group called Save the Angel Oak and the Coastal Conservation League their concerns included the construction s effect on available groundwater and nutrients 12 By December 2013 the Lowcountry Land Trust celebrated 13 the preservation of 17 acres adjacent to the majestic tree The 17 acres adjacent to the Angel Oak were purchased by Lowcountry Land Trust protecting the area from development The Angel Oak features prominently in the book The Heart of A Child by Emily Nelson 14 The Angel Oak was the focal point of an Allstate television ad in September 2018 saluting the strength of the Carolinas following the devastation of Hurricane Florence 15 See also EditList of individual treesReferences EditNotes David Elliott 2015 03 29 Angel Oak Facts www angeloaktree com Archived from the original on 2016 03 25 Retrieved 2015 05 20 57 m History of the Angel Oak Live Oak Society listing of oaks 1 500 Retrieved 2013 07 16 Live Oak Society with images and information Bertauski Tony Taking care of the Angel Oak a grand old lady Johns Island tree estimated to be 400 500 years old Post and Courier African American slave owners americancivilwar com Retrieved August 30 2015 Pakenham pp 142 43 Dent p 148 Pederson Neil Eastern OLDLIST A database of maximum tree ages for Eastern North America www ldeo columbia edu Arboresque Angel Oak Archived from the original on 2016 04 22 Retrieved 2012 04 07 Angel Oak Website Archived from the original on 2010 12 02 Retrieved 2008 03 21 Angel Oak case ends The State April 6 2012 Angel Oak Preserve Celebration A Success The Lowcountry Land Trust December 20 2013 Stefan Andrews The 400 year old Angel Oak is one of the most remarkable living things east of the Mississippi The Vintage News Retrieved October 21 2018 Allstate TV Commercial Still Standing iSpot tv Retrieved 2018 09 24 SourcesSamuels Gayle Brandow 1999 Enduring Roots Encounters with Trees History and the American Landscape New Brunswick NJ Rutgers University Press ISBN 0 585 31062 9 Pakenham Thomas 2002 Remarkable Trees of the World London Weidenfeld amp Nicolson ISBN 0 297 84300 1 Dent Thomas L 1997 Southern journey a return to the civil rights movement New York W Morrow ISBN 0 688 14099 8 Perry Lee Tom 2007 Insiders guide to Charleston including Mt Pleasant Summerville Kiawah and other islands Guilford CT Globe Pequot Press ISBN 0 7627 4403 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Angel Oak amp oldid 1103202267, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
