Black Heritage Tree Map
Living Witnesses to a Hidden History
Black Heritage Trees is a living tribute to the history, strength, and spirit of Black communities. These trees—found in places like Tulsa, Houston, Galveston, and St. Croix—have stood through generations of struggle and hope. Some are Witness Trees, silent observers of injustice, resistance, and loss. Others are Spirit Trees, offering comfort and inspiration in the face of hardship. Together, they tell powerful stories rooted in the land. This project honors those stories—and the people behind them—through history, memory, and place.
Number of Black Heritage Trees Identified
98
Number of Black Heritage Trees Mapped
6
Number of Black Heritage Trees In Need of Conservation
3
Number of Black Heritage Trees with Historical Markers/Monuments
2
Featured Tree Stories
The Greenwood Legacy Tree
The Greenwood Legacy Tree is one of Tulsa’s most important living witnesses to the past. Located in the Historic Greenwood District on the grounds of Carver Middle School, this American Elm tree has stood for over a century, weathering fire, ice, storms, disease, and even violence.
Jack the Giant Tree Sculpture
In Galveston’s predominantly Black Historic East End, many of the surviving trees became Black Heritage Trees overnight.
The Freedom Tree
In June 1865, when the troops reached the Palmer plantation in Missouri City, Texas they met underneath the Freedom Tree and read the General Order #3 for the first time. This live oak tree is not only still standing but serves as a gathering place for descendants whose ancestors were enslaved at the Palmer plantation. Every year families gather under the Freedom Tree to celebrate the day their ancestors finally heard they were free.
Grove Place Baobab Tree
The Grove Place Baobab on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is no ordinary tree—it’s a living monument that has witnessed nearly three centuries of Virgin Islands history.