Treaty Oak (Austin, Texas)
The Treaty Oak is a once-majestic live oak in Austin, Texas. It is the last surviving member of the Council Oaks, a grove of fourteen such trees that served as a sacred meeting place for the local Commanche and Tonkawa Indians. The tree is considered to be approximately 500 years old. Before vandalism in 1989, it had a spread of approximately 127 feet.
There are several legends surrounding the tree. According to an early Native American legend, Indian women would drink a potion made from the leaves of the oaks during the full moon to ensure that their men would be safe in battle. According to popular local folklore, in the 1830s, Stephen F. Austin, the leader of the Austin Colony, met the local Native Americans in the grove to negotiate and sign a boundary treaty after two children and a local judge had been killed in raids. There is no historical evidence, however, to suggest that such an event took place..
Over the next century, the Council Oaks fell victim to neglect and to the development of the city of Austin. In 1927, only a single tree remained. The survivor was proclaimed to be "The most perfect specimen of a North American tree" and was inducted into the American Forestry Association's Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C.
The tree had been on land owned by the Caldwell family since 1882. In 1926, the widow of W. H. Caldwell had offered the land on which the tree stood for sale for 7,000 dollars, because she could no longer afford to pay taxes. Local historical groups urged the State Legislature to buy the land, but the effort failed. In 1937, the City of Austin purchased the land from T. J. Caldwell for 1,000 dollars and commerated the surviving tree with a plaque honoring its role in Texas history [1].
In 1989, in an act of deliberate vandalism, the tree was poisoned by the pouring of Velpar, a power herbicide designed to kill hardwoods, around its base. The incident sparked community outrage and renewed appreciation for the nearly-forgotten tree, including a torrent of home-made "Get Well" cards from local schoolchildren. The vandal, Paul Cullen, was later convicted of felony criminal mischief and was sentenced to serve 9 years in prison
The incident led to intensive efforts to save the tree, including the replacement of soil around its roots. Nevertheless, almost two-thirds of the tree died and over half the crown was pruned, leaving a lopsided remainder of its once-grand form. Although it was expected that the tree would die completely, it has nevertheless survived and has shown signs of recovery. In 1997, it produced its first crop of acorns since the vandalism.
Location
The tree is located in Treaty Oak Park, on Baylor Street between 5th and 6th Streets, just West of Lamar Boulevard.