Tree Ring Display, Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center - Uitica, IL
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 41° 19.252 W 088° 59.601
16T E 333167 N 4576293
The ring display is in the lobby area of the Visitor Center to Starved Rock State Park, and it is of an American Elm that succumbed to Dutch Elm disease.
Waymark Code: WMJ36E
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 09/15/2013
Views: 7
In Utica, within the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center, is a tree ring display of a former great American Elm tree.
The tree ring display is located in the lobby of the visitor center for the park. The entrance to the park is from IL Route 178, a short distance south of the bridge over the Illinois River. Follow the road to the parking lot at the end, then walk a short distance to the visitor center building. AFter opening the door, the display is on the left.
The display is of a cross section of a tree, approximately five feet in diameter. There is a place that has the history of the cross section and several arrows showing rings for certain dates.
The historical text is as follows:
"A Great American Elm
This is one of the largest known American elms in the state of Illinois. It was destroyed by the elm bark beatle, which caused Dutch elm disease. In its prime, the elm was 85 feet tall with a diameter of over five feet. It supported the largest known crown in the country at 126 feet."
A partial listing of the arrows includes:
2000 - Elm tree dies
1914 - World War I begins
1911 - Starved rock becomes a state park
1865 - Civil War ends
There is also a plexiglass plate over an area with an arrow saying "Bullet found in tree."
There is no arrow or other indication on when the tree started growing. 1865 is the oldest arrow. I estimate that the tree was 10-20 years old when the war ended.
Check the web site for details on hours. Generally, when we were there, the hourse were 10am - 4 pm (09/13). There is no admission fee.
Location Name and/or Address:
Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center
IL Route 178
Utica, IL 61373
Website: [Web Link]
Tree Species: American Elm
Indoors/Outdoors: Indoors
Entry Fee or Requirements: No
Availablility: Has specific hours
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Visit Instructions:
Visit the location and take a photo of the Tree Growth Rings. If you have more information about the tree or circumstance, please share it in your visit log.