Saving the Washington Elm Tree in Wyoming

Wyoming is a long way from Cambridge, Massachusetts. But, in 1932, a sapling from the George Washington Elm, which is located in Cambridge, came to Wyoming.

Susan Ottema, current Vice Regent of the Sheridan Chapter of the Wyoming Daughters of the American Revolution, in a short talk at The Hub on Smith, explained why this sapling made the long journey west.

Alice Dorsey was a member of the DAR and she wrote to the DAR Regent of each of the lower 48 states telling them about the tree and asking that a sapling be planted at each state capitol. One was given to Wyoming, and it still stands on the ground of the Wyoming State Capitol. At the time, the Wyoming regent Mrs. Corbett received the letter from Dorsey about the sapling.

When the sapling was large enough, it was planted on the capitol grounds in Cheyenne.

In 2018, it was determined that the tree was 80 years old. Since the tree did not have a marker to let people know about its history, the DAR placed a marker near the tree, giving the history of the Washington Elm. Trees only live for so long, and 80 years is old for a tree.

The Wyoming DAR chapter is currently working on a project for the conservation and preservation of the George Washington Elm Tree.

The cuttings are now growing in a greenhouse in Colorado. Ottema said she talked to the Sheridan Community Land Trust about planting the tree in the Big Goose natural area, should Sheridan be lucky enough to be awarded one of the saplings.

There is a link to the DAR telling more about the project.

Washington Elm – Wyoming Daughters Of The American Revolution