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For scale, that's Judy Ness
standing near the trunk of this live oak tree
(Quercus Virginiana) that stands about 13 miles
southwest of downtown Charleston. Thought to
be the oldest tree east of the Mississippi River,
it's over 65 feet tall and could be as many
as 1,500 years old. According to (the no-longer-available) HistoricTrees.org,
ownership records can be traced back to 1717,
when Abraham Waight "took possession"
of the tree as part of a land grant. The tree
has a circumference of nearly 26 feet and provides
about 17,000 square feet of shade. The largest
limb has a circumference of 11 feet. Some people
claim the name of this massive tree refers to
the aura of an angel, but is more likely named
after one set of previous owners, Martha and
John Angel. Today, the tree is the centerpiece
of a public park.
Location:
3688 Angel Oak Road,
Johns Island, SC 29455
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