American Heritage Tree Tour Preview

1

Alvin C. York Dogwood

Alvin Cullum York, known also by his rank, Sergeant York, is one of the most celebrated soldiers in American history. He joined the pacifist Church of Christ in Christian Union in 1914, and when drafted for service in World War I in 1917, he applied for conscientious objector status, but was denied. On Oct. 8, 1918, while on patrol along the Meuse-Argonne Front in France, York and his platoon wandered behind enemy lines and were caught in an ambush that left over half the platoon dead. York received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 20 German soldiers, and capturing 132 German soldiers. This home is now part of the Alvin C. York State Historic Park. The park contains the farm and gristmill once owned by York who lived in the Pall Mall area for most of his life.

2

Alex Haley Crape Myrtle

Alex Haley lived in Henning, Tennessee with his grandparents from 1921-1929. Here is where young Alex heard many oral accounts of his family history from his grandmother, Cynthia, and Aunts Liz, Viney, Till and Cousin Georgia. On summer evenings their stories of ancestors, Kunta Kinte, who was sold into slavery at age 16 from West Africa, and “Chicken George”, who led the family from North Carolina to Tennessee, inspired Haley to write the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Roots.

3

George Washington Hornbeam

George Washington was the first President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Washington was also a horticulturist, farmer and landscape designer at heart. American Heritage Trees is honored to be working with Mount Vernon in the collection of seeds and propagation of several trees, including Tulip Poplar, Sycamore, Red Maple, Magnolia, and Yellow Buckeye.

4

Robert E. Lee Shellbark Hickory

A National Historic Landmark, Stratford Hall preserves the legacy of the Lee family and its surrounding community, inspires an appreciation of America’s past, and encourages commitment to the ideals of leadership, honor, independent thought, and civic responsibility. Established by Thomas Lee in the 1730s, Stratford Hall is one of the great houses of American history. Four generations of the Lee family passed through its stately doors including Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, the only two brothers to sign the Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War hero “Light Horse Harry” Lee, and his son, Civil War General Robert E. Lee, who was born at Stratford Hall in 1807.

5

Birthing Tree White Oak

The Birthing Tree was a local landmark for settlers passing through the area. Travelers from North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia would journey through Knoxville on the Old Kentucky Trail. These trails converged at Rock Island (the closest city at that time) and then passed under the spreading branches of this giant tree before continuing south to Alabama. The huge oak was a well-known meeting place for these weary travelers. Some waited for long periods of time for fellow settlers to join them. Others lingered because of bad weather or lack of supplies.

6

Helen Keller Southern Magnolia

Helen Keller grew up to become one of history's remarkable women. One of her favorite trees was a Water Oak, currently over 200 years old, which she often spoke and wrote about.

7

Mark Twain Burr Oak

Samuel Clemens grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, a riverfront town on the Mississippi. As a boy Clemens often climbed trees and explored caves, spending many hours playing in a nearby cave that was known as Simms Cave, now the Mark Twain Cave.

8

Alvin C. York Tulip Poplar

Alvin Cullum York, known also by his rank, Sergeant York, is one of the most celebrated soldiers in American history. York received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 20 German soldiers, and capturing 132 German soldiers.