Sentinel On The Bluff.
Bur Oak-Quercus Macrocarpa.
Circa 1499:
This Bur Oak takes root.
Mid/late 1600's:
French explores tour this region inhagited by Peoria native Americans.
1750's:
Early serveys by European settlers include reference to tree.
1850's:
Dr.& Mrs. E. H. Bradley acquire land upon whitch tree stands.
1930's:
Bradley family purchases adjoining land back lot , has large house razed to allow trees roots to grow un hampered.
1960's:
Efforts of Bradley family desenendants , Peoria City Beautiful and Peoria Park District make possible the purchase of property to save the Oak tree.
1971
Tree site purchased by Peoria Park District.
1974:
Giant Oak Park - official name of tree site.
1976:
For having lived during the American Revolutianary period the tree ia disignated a Bicentennial tree by the International society Arborist Association.
1976-1977:
"Frankie Acorn" (Frank Hanbury, Jr) collects 200 acorns from the tree and plants them in four western states.
1991:
The Giant Oak is designated Peoria's tricentennal tree in recognition of it's three hundred years of age, beginning of seed propagatian project by Illinois Department of Conservation and Peoria Urban Forestry Board.
1992-1993:
Peoria City Beautiful, City of Peoria and the Peoria Park Distric through deed of of land transfer, Privet to public ownership, secure the Eastward expansion of the root system.
Peoria Park District owns/maintains Giant Oak Park.
1994:
Dimensions of the Giant Oak.:
50 feet high:
110 feet spread:
54.5 inche trunk diameter.
Wikipeda entry for Bur Oak.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bur_Oak