OTE - Oregon Travel Experience

Sequoia sempervirens

This Coast Redwood was planted in 1992 at the site of the only Japanese aerial bombing of the continental United States on September 9, 1942. The tree was planted by the pilot of the submarine-delivered reconnaissance plane, Flight Officer Nobuo Fujita. The bombing of the continental United States was in retaliation for the Doolittle raid on Tokyo in April 1942.

Tree Facts

Planted:

Date of dedication: April 7, 2001

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Pinus ponderosa

This majestic pine is the biggest of its species ever recorded. It was a giant before the Oregon Territory was established, enduring centuries of fire, insects, disease, and human impact. Recently half of its crown was lost to weather, making another Ponderosa pine taller, but “Big Tree” remains the largest in circumference.

Tree Facts

Height: 162 ft

Date of dedication: June 5, 2000

Age at dedication: ~500 years

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Location: La …

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Sequoiadendron giganteum

The Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel were established in Oregon in 1882 by a small group of Sisters from Switzerland. In 1887 construction was started on the Monastery. This giant sequoia was planted in 1893 by Sister Protasia Schindler, one of the first American women to enter the religious community. She found the seedling beside the railroad tracks and planted it very close to the Monastery not knowing what …

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Acer macrophyllum

These two bigleaf maple trees, one on each side of the replica tollgate, are believed to have been planted by Daniel Parker who was the tollgate keeper here from 1883 to 1902. The Barlow Road is a branch of the Oregon National Historic Trail and was opened as a toll road in 1846 by Sam Barlow and Phillip Foster. This was the western-most and last tollgate operated on the …

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Juglans nigra

Andrew J. Baker, who arrived in the Oregon Territory in 1843 as part of the Great Migration, planted the black walnut in 1870 next to his house, built in 1852. The house, which still stands at this site, was used as a stage coach stop in the last 1800s. The property was purchased by William S. Russell and is still owned by Russell’s heirs.

Tree Facts

Height: 105 ft

Date of dedication: …

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Robinia pseudoacacia

James and Elizabeth Baker were among the first Oregon Trail emigrants to settle in Eastern Oregon. They traveled from Iowa in 1862 and were one of the original five families to settle in what is now the city of La Grande. Most of La Grande was treeless prairie when they arrived. James Baker was known as a horticulturalist and planted many of the first trees in the community. Elizabeth …

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Juglans nigra

This black walnut was planted c. 1884 by the Zimmerman family who were prominent members of the Aurora Colony. Early Aurora settlers were talented and industrious. Their products gained a wide reputation for excellence during the early days of Willamette Valley settlement. As a carpenter, Christian Zimmerman helped build the village and likely planted the tree and others like it for the valuable hardwood.

Tree Facts

Height: 70 ft

Date of dedication: …

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Populus tremuloides

The carvings on the trees in this aspen grove are called “arborglyphs.” Most of the arborglyphs here were carved by Basque sheepherders who worked the top of the Steens Mountain in the early-to-middle 20th century. These historic carvings were lightly carved into the bark to make notes about the sheep, leave drawings, or as a means of letting one another know who had passed by each place.

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Mixed species grove

This grove of mixed trees species was started as a memorial for Oregon members of the 10th Mountain Division who fought in Italy during WWII. They were the only US Army Division trained in mountain warfare and were trained to fight on skis. In 1996 the first tree in this memorial grove was planted. The grove is maintained by decedents and discharged members of the 10th Mountain Division.

Location: …

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