This European copper beech tree has witnessed more than 100 years of urban development. In the 1890s, Joseph and Mary Watson planted this beech tree in front of their home in what was a quiet neighborhood on the edge of Portland. The Watson family had deep ties to Oregon’s iron and banking industries and Portland city politics. In the 1960s, Portland State University purchased the site for its library, and officials decided to preserve the tree. In the 1980s, the library expanded around the tree. From the earliest drawings, architects incorporated the tree into the half-circle design. Today, this remarkable tree offers us a connection back to the 1890s and invites us to reflect on changes in the land around us.
Located in front of the Portland State University Library, 1875 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97201.