Rooted in the Past: How Students Uncover the Secret History of America’s Witness Trees

By Maria J. Savaiano’s Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Students, Clara Barton Open School, Minneapolis, MN.

Editor’s Note: This post is a “vintage” treasure from our archives, originally published in Dragonfly Magazine in April 1996. It captures a moment when a class in Minnesota decided to bridge the gap between local history and the natural world.

A detailed botanical illustration of a Southern Magnolia flower featuring large, creamy white petals and a prominent center with red and white stamens photocopied directly from the magazine. Two large, vibrant green leaves are visible beneath the blossom against a light blue background.
 The Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is famous for its huge, fragrant white flowers. Clara Barton spent 23 years planting these beautiful trees to honor the soldiers who died during the Civil War.

The Spark

Our school is named after Clara Barton, a courageous woman from the 1800s who saved lives as a nurse during the Civil War. While we were studying trees in science class, we started thinking about our namesake. We knew trees provide us with the air we breathe and shelter for animals, but we started to wonder: Do trees have their own stories to tell? Could a tree be a living witness to the famous people and historical events we read about in our history books?

The Prediction

We believed that if we looked closely enough at the heritage of certain saplings and the locations of famous landmarks, we would find that nature and history aren’t two separate subjects—they are completely intertwined. We predicted that many of the historical figures we admire actually had specific “witness trees” associated with their greatest achievements.

How We Investigated

To find the truth, we turned into history detectives. We didn’t just look at bark and leaves; we looked at records.

  • Step 1: We paired up and chose specific trees to research.
  • Step 2: We scoured our school’s media center and dove into CD-ROM programs and the “Information Superhighway” (the Internet!) to find sources. [Editors note: Reminder that this was published in 1995!]
  • Step 3: When we hit a dead end, we ordered books and videos from other local libraries.
  • Step 4: We collaborated with real scientists! We emailed the experts at Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science (SDE/GWIS) to help us fact-check our findings and refine our writing.

What We Found

Our research led us to some incredible “living” history facts:

  • A Symbol of Memory: Our namesake, Clara Barton, actually planted Southern Magnolia trees to honor the veterans of the Civil War.
  • The Lincoln Connection: We discovered that Abraham Lincoln stood under a Honey Locust tree while delivering the famous Gettysburg Address.
  • Global Travelers: We found that the White Ash shades the Roosevelt home in New York, but it also stands at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier all the way in Moscow, Russia!
  • Alex Haley: He listened to his grandmother’s tales of slavery while they rested under a shady Silver Maple tree. 

To bring our research to life, we didn’t just write reports—we got our hands dirty. Joined by the Mayor of St. Paul, Norm Coleman, we headed to the banks of the Mississippi River. Despite the cold, we dressed in historical costumes (see photo below) and planted “historical saplings.” We planted Hackberry trees (like those at Woodrow Wilson’s home) and Silver Maples (descendants of trees standing during the War for American Independence in 1775).

A vintage photograph showing two young students dressed in 1800s-style historical costumes, including a flat cap and a shawl. They are kneeling on the ground outdoors, carefully planting a small tree sapling as part of a school history project.
History in the making: We braved the cold and dressed in 1800s costumes to plant historical saplings—like the hackberry and silver maple—along the Mississippi River.

Go Wild: Your Turn

Every tree has a story—maybe even the one in your backyard!

  1. Map Your History: Research the oldest tree in your neighborhood. What was happening in your town when that tree was just a sapling?
  2. The Honor Tree: Like Clara Barton, is there someone you admire? Find a tree species that represents their character and plant one (or dedicate an existing one) in their honor. Write a “Certificate of Appreciation” to read at your dedication ceremony!

The Field Guide (For Educators)

  • Subject/Grade Level: Social Studies & Environmental Science / Grades 5–8
  • Inquiry Focus: Historical Research, Primary/Secondary Source Verification, and Community Action.
  • The Science Behind It: Trees can live for hundreds of years, acting as biological archives. Through dendrochronology (studying tree rings) and historical records, we can track environmental changes and human milestones. Planting “descendant” trees (saplings grown from the seeds of famous trees) helps preserve genetic history and fosters stewardship.
  • Standards Connection: Common Core (Researching and Presenting Knowledge); NGSS (ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems).
  • Materials Needed: Library/Internet access, local historical archives, saplings for planting, and historical costume pieces (optional but recommended for flair!).
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