Potomac River
Scenic view of the Potomac River at Point Lookout.
Roots of Freedom: Discover Maryland's Liberty Trees in Allegany County
Long before America was a nation, trees became powerful symbols of resistance, unity, and freedom.
In Colonial Boston, a towering elm known as the Liberty Tree became a rallying point for protest against British rule. When the Stamp Act imposed unfair taxes on the colonies in 1765, outlawed groups like the Sons of Liberty gathered beneath its branches to organize, debate, and imagine a new future. British troops eventually cut the tree down in 1775—but its legacy had already taken root. Even Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, immortalized the Liberty Tree in verse.
Click Here to learn more about St. John's College and the Liberty Tree.
Maryland’s Liberty Tree and the Patriots Who Gathered Beneath It
Maryland’s Liberty Tree was a massive tulip poplar that stood on the campus of St. John's College in Annapolis. Experts date its origin to around 1599, making it more than 400 years old—and the last surviving Liberty Tree from the colonial era.
Beneath its branches, American patriots boldly advocated for independence from Great Britain during the turbulent days leading up to the American Revolution. Among those known to have gathered there were Samuel Chase and William Paca, who would later sign the Declaration of Independence. Western Maryland’s own Thomas Cresap—a passionate frontier leader and elected delegate to the Annapolis General Assembly from 1757 to 1770—is also believed to have met beneath its canopy.
Just a few blocks away, the Liberty Tree stood as a silent witness in December 1783 when George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Annapolis State House. Decades later, Francis Scott Key, author of The Star-Spangled Banner, often strolled beneath its branches while attending St. John’s College in the 1790s.
Despite surviving centuries of storms, fires, repeated tree surgeries, and even an explosion of gunpowder, the original Liberty Tree ultimately fell during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. But its story did not end there.
A Living Legacy Grows in Allegany County
Thanks to the foresight of St. John’s College, a genetic scion of the original Maryland Liberty Tree was created in the 1880s. That lineage continues today through the Liberty Tree Project, a collaborative effort between St. John's College, the Allegany County Forestry Board, Davey Tree Expert Company, John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery, and the LaVale Lions Club—working together to regenerate trees of historic significance and promote the value and benefits of trees for future generations.
Today, Allegany County is home to 15 descendant Liberty Trees, all planted on public lands—ensuring these living symbols of freedom are accessible to everyone.
One notable planting can be found at Green Ridge State Forest, Rocky Gap State Park, and the C&O Canal Towpath, where visitors can stand beneath a tree whose genetic roots trace directly back to the American Revolution. Another easily accessible specimen grows at the LaVale Library, making it an ideal stop for visitors, families, and history enthusiasts alike.
Why These Trees Still Matter
Liberty Trees aren’t monuments carved from stone. They are living, growing reminders of the courage, debate, and unity that helped shape a nation. As you explore Allegany County’s trails, historic sites, and downtowns, take a moment to seek out these remarkable trees. Their roots reach back to the Revolution, and their branches stretch toward generations yet to come.
In Mountain Maryland, freedom didn’t just make history—it took root.