The Maryland Liberty Tree project is a statewide commemorative project marking the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. Using seedlings grown from the only surviving genetically identical Liberty Tree scion in the United States—descended from Maryland’s original 1775 Liberty Tree in Annapolis—the project will plant a Liberty Tree in each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City by the end of 2026.

Liberty Tree History

The Liberty Tree is one of the most powerful and enduring symbols of American resistance, community action, and shared civic responsibility. From its origins in Boston protests against the Stamp Act to its adoption across the colonies, the Liberty Tree became a living emblem of liberty itself. In Maryland, the Liberty Tree selected by the citizens of Annapolis in September 1775 survived the Revolutionary era and remains central to this story today through its living scion.

Project Background

The Maryland Liberty Tree project is a statewide commemorative project marking the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. Using seedlings grown from the only surviving genetically identical Liberty Tree scion in the United States—descended from Maryland’s original 1775 Liberty Tree in Annapolis—the project will plant a Liberty Tree in each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City by the end of 2026.

This initiative is a partnership between Preservation Maryland, the Maryland Center for History and Culture, the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area (SMNHA), and the Maryland Heritage Areas Coalition (MHAC), with support from the Maryland250 Commission, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, St. John’s College, Davey Tree Expert Company, and the Maryland Forestry Foundation.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will plant within selected heritage sites across the state.

Planting Locations:

  • Allegany County — Canal Place Heritage Park
  • Anne Arundel County / City of Annapolis — Paca House and Gardens
  • Baltimore City — Druid Hill Park (Susquehannock Pavilion)
  • Baltimore County — Pickall (Ellicott’s Upper Mills)
  • Calvert County — Jefferson Patterson Park
  • Caroline County — Adkins Arboretum
  • Carroll County — Strawbridge Shrine, New Windsor
  • Cecil County — Perryville
  • Charles County — Thomas Stone National
  • Dorchester County — Cambridge Women’s Club (Sycamore Cottage)
  • Frederick County — Mt. Olivet Cemetery
  • Garrett County — Casselman Bridge State Park
  • Harford County — Havre de Grace
  • Howard County — Avalon (Patapsco Valley State Park – Iron Works)
  • Kent County — Turners Creek Historic Tree Grove
  • Montgomery County — Gray Courthouse
  • Prince George’s County — Accokeek / Piscataway Park
  • Queen Anne’s County — Queen Anne’s Park (Route 18 – Parks HQ)
  • Somerset County — Janes Island State Park
  • St. Mary’s County — Historic St. Mary’s City
  • Talbot County — Frederick Douglass Park on the Tuckahoe
  • Washington County — City Park, Hagerstown (Hager House)
  • Wicomico County — Pemberton Hall
  • Worcester County — Calvin B. Taylor House Museum

      Larger commemorative Liberty Tree events have already been held in Annapolis, Frederick, Baltimore City, Southern Maryland, and Harford County, with additional plantings and community celebrations planned across the state through the end of the Maryland Liberty Tree Project.

       

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