An American elm in Oklahoma City has survived more than a century of change, including one of the city’s darkest moments. Foresters believe the tree was planted around 1920. By 1947, it had grown into a mature tree in the backyard of a family home. The house later disappeared as commercial development changed the area, while a nearby parking lot led to the removal of the other trees around it. According to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, the elm survived.On April 19, 1995, the elm stood directly across from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building when a 4,000-pound bomb exploded, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds. The blast badly damaged the tree, but it survived. In the years that followed, the elm came to be recognised as the Survivor Tree, a lasting symbol of the tragedy and the city’s resilience.
How did the 1920-era elm survive changes in downtown Oklahoma City
The American elm was already a mature tree when it appeared in photographs taken in 1947. It stood in the backyard of a family home in downtown Oklahoma City, with the building that would later become the Memorial Museum visible behind it.Another photograph shows the elm surrounded by other trees in the backyard. The street beside the property, Northwest Fifth, is now the site of the Memorial’s Reflecting Pool.Over the years, the family home was replaced by commercial development. The tree faced another challenge when a parking lot led to the removal of the other trees around it. The elm survived through decades of change as Oklahoma City’s downtown landscape continued to evolve.
PC: Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
How did the 1995 bombing change the story of the old elm
The elm had stood in downtown Oklahoma City as the city around it changed. It witnessed the growth of the skyline and the lives of generations of people. Despite its long presence, it was largely overlooked and remained just another tree in the downtown landscape.That changed on April 19, 1995, when the elm was caught in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The elm stood directly across the street and was exposed to the force of the 4,000-pound bomb. The attack killed 168 people and injured hundreds. The blast left the elm badly damaged, but it was still standing among the rubble. Its survival gave the tree a new significance in Oklahoma City’s history.
Why were plans to remove the elm abandoned after the bombing
The elm faced another danger in the aftermath of the bombing. Plans were made to remove the tree so that shrapnel and other evidence embedded in its trunk and branches could be recovered. This meant the tree was at risk of being destroyed even after it had withstood the blast.The plans to remove the elm were eventually abandoned, allowing the tree to remain at the site. The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum describes its survival alongside the city’s resolve and unity. The elm was no longer seen as simply another downtown tree. It came to be known as the Survivor Tree, a name tied to the events of April 19, 1995.
From downtown tree to Oklahoma City’s Survivor Tree
The Survivor Tree is an iconic American elm that has stood in downtown Oklahoma City for over a century. Foresters believe it was likely planted around 1920.Its story began in a family backyard and continued through commercial development and the construction of a parking lot that led to the removal of the other trees around it. The elm also survived the destruction caused by the 1995 bombing, when it stood directly across from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.The 4,000-pound bomb badly damaged the tree. It was later at risk of being removed so that evidence could be recovered from its trunk and branches. The elm was ultimately left standing and became known as the Survivor Tree, a lasting symbol of resilience.
