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Contact: Jonathan Parker
Six Kwanzan cherry trees with historical connections to the cherry trees of Washington DC recently traveled 324 miles from Berryville, Virginia to Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, NY as part of an ongoing tree replanting project in the park.The freshly planted cherry trees, from non-profit Casey Trees in Washington DC, replace cherry trees removed in 2023 due to deterioration and old age. The new trees are part of the same tree stock used to plant new trees at the National Mall and Potomac Tidal Basin in DC, home of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
These trees continue the long history of cherry trees at Sagamore Hill. In 1957, the country of Japan gifted cherry saplings to Sagamore Hill in recognition of Theodore Roosevelt’s work to broker peace during the Russo-Japanese War. These 1957 trees were also the direct genetic descendants of the 3,020 cherry trees originally gifted by Japan to the United States in 1912 on the National Mall in Washington DC.
“We are excited to plant these six new Kwanzan cherry trees with connections to our nation’s capital,” said Sagamore Hill Chief of Perseveration and Maintenance Kevan Keegan. “As stewards of history and the land, we are proud to preserve the historic landscape of Sagamore Hill and ensure future generations can enjoy these beautiful cherry trees, right here on Long Island. We enjoyed working with Casey Trees and thank the Theodore Roosevelt Legacy Partnership for making this unique multi-state project possible.”
Members of the Theodore Roosevelt Legacy Partnership, Casey Trees, and National Park Service staff participated in the replanting adjacent to the parking lot. Additional tree plantings, including new apple trees, are underway and will continue throughout 2024. The apple, pear, cherry and other fruit trees at Sagamore Hill comprise part of the original Roosevelt 19th and 20th-century flower and vegetable gardens.
Last updated: May 8, 2024