Connecticut’s state tree is the white oak, chosen to honor the Charter Oak that grew in Hartford until 1850. The tree’s history dates back to the 1600s when Connecticut was struggling for independence from British colonial rule. The Royal Charter was hidden inside a large white oak, which was uprooted in 1856, revealing the Charter. The White Oak is shared with Illinois and Maryland and is featured on the State Quarter.
The official state tree of Connecticut is the white oak; it was chosen to honor the gigantic Charter Oak that grew in the city of Hartford until 1850. The scientific name of this tree is quercus alba. Connecticut shares its state tree with two other states: Illinois and Maryland.
The story of how the white oak became the state tree of Connecticut dates back to the 1600s, when Connecticut, along with other states, was struggling to be liberated from British colonial rule. In 1662, Connecticut had already been granted independence through the efforts of Governor John Winthrop Jr., who traveled to England to appeal for state autonomy to King Charles II. Governor Winthrop was given a Royal Charter as proof of the King’s approval. When King Charles II died, however, the crown passed to his brother, King James II. James II forced many states and colonies to join the Dominion of New England, even those, such as Connecticut, that held royal charters.
In October 1687, Sir Edmund Andros, who had been appointed Governor-General by King James II, led a small army into Hartford to recover the Royal Charter, intending to revoke it. He was met with hostility by the settlers. One night, in a candlelit room, Sir Andros met the leaders of Connecticut. The meeting went on for hours and discussion soon flared up, but was cut short when the candle suddenly went out.
When the candle was relit, the Royal Charter was found to be gone. According to one version, a Connecticut captain named James Wadsworth took the Royal Charter and hid it inside a large white oak. Another version of this story says that the Royal Charter present at the meeting was not the original copy, and Sir Andros – who stole it while the light was out – took the duplicate without her knowledge.
Nearly one hundred and seventy years after the accident, the mystery has been solved. On August 21, 1856, a severe storm passed over Connecticut and uprooted a massive white oak tree in Hartford, revealing the state’s Royal Charter. This led to that specific oak being named the “Charter Oak” and making the White Oak the Connecticut State Tree. To preserve the tree’s historic significance, some of its wood was turned into three chairs, which are on display and in use in Hartford’s Capitol Building. An image of the Connecticut state tree also appears in the State Quarter memorial.
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