Portland Parks & Recreation Honors the Legacy of Portland’s First Heritage Tree

(Portland, Oregon) –

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is celebrating the life, history, and enduring legacy of Portland's first-ever Heritage Tree—an American elm planted around 1870 on the Burrell family property and later designated as Heritage Tree #1.

View full size image of Heritage Tree 1 in an undated photo before it declined. The tree was part of Portland for many decades and the City is proud to honor it even though it is gone.

Although the landmark tree was removed in 2024 due to irreversible decline and public safety concerns, PP&R has ensured that its story will live on. Portions of the tree have been carefully reclaimed and transformed into meaningful public assets, including a major cross-section donated to the Oregon Historical Society and handcrafted benches now being installed at some PP&R community centers. Read more about Heritage Tree #1's history and legacy on the Oregon Historical Society's blog, Dear Oregon, where it was originally published.

For more than 130 years, the towering Burrell Elm stood as a living witness to Portland's growth, from its early suburban edges to the bustling downtown neighborhood that grew around it. Loved by neighbors and admired by tree enthusiasts, it became the first designated Heritage Tree in 1975 and remains a symbol of Portland's commitment to honoring its historic trees. Today, the elm's legacy endures not only through its history, but also through the places where its wood will continue to bring people together and share its story.

After its removal, PP&R's Urban Forestry team moved quickly to preserve the tree's memory through meaningful reuse. The main trunk was carefully milled into high‑quality lumber through cooperation and partnerships with local sawyers and Oregon Canadian Forest Products, a local firm which generously kiln‑dried the wood at no cost. This work has made it possible for PP&R carpenters to hand-craft benches for PP&R community centers—durable pieces that will keep the spirit of the Burrell Elm present where Portlanders gather.

The City also donated a large, beautifully preserved cross‑section of the trunk to the Oregon Historical Society, where it will serve as a permanent educational piece illustrating the tree's history, growth, and place in Portland's cultural landscape.

"Letting go of a tree this important is never easy," says City Forester and Urban Forestry Manager Jenn Cairo. "But honoring it is an act of love. It is heartwarming to see the tree's legacy preserved at our community centers and in the Oregon Historical Society."

View full size image of A portion of the tree which formerly stood at SW 10th and Jefferson. It was recovered after removal, milled and treated, and turned into numerous park benches for PP&R community centers and this large "round", on display at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland.

Learn more about these projects and read the full story of the first Heritage Tree.The Portland Parks & Recreation web link lets you explore the tree's origins, its ties to civic leader Rosa Frazer Burrell, the multi-year assessment that led to its removal, and the creative partnerships now carrying its legacy forward.

PP&R invites community members to visit the new benches as they appear in community centers this year and to learn more about Heritage Tree #1's remarkable journey.

About Heritage Trees

Portland's Heritage Trees are trees that have been formally recognized by City Council for their unique size, age, or historical or horticultural significance. Once accepted by Council, Heritage Trees are designated with a small plaque so they can be identified by the public and listed in the Heritage Tree database.

There are over 300 Heritage Trees throughout Portland, and new trees are added each year. Anyone can nominate a Heritage Tree!

No tree on private property can be designated without the consent of the property owner. This consent binds all successors, heirs, and assigns. The ordinance further states that it is unlawful for any person, without a prior written permit from the Forester, to remove, destroy, cut, prune, break or injure any Heritage Tree. More info is available on our Heritage Tree program page.

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