I made a trip last month to Red Oak Oklahoma to attend my friend’s bridal shower.
She insisted that we drive off the beaten path to Tamaha, Oklahoma, where I saw the most HUGE pin oak tree EVER.
My friend Kalyn had campaigned in this area years earlier and saw this HUGE tree by the Senior Citizen Center in Tamaha, Oklahoma – she was AMAZED at the size, but the locals thought nothing of it, as “it had always been there.”
So, after the bridal shower, Kalyn, Janie and I met Kalyn’s mother and aunt in Tamaha. According to Wikipedia, Tamaha had 198 residents after the 2000 census. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.7 km²), of which, 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²) of it is land and 0.16% is water.
The largest oak tree in Oklahoma – maybe the world?
These four adult women (see photo) stretched to hold hands in an attempt to encircle the tree trunk while I snapped a photo. The four were unable to encircle it – a fifth adult was needed.
My friend Janie is a bit of a tree expert and estimated the tree’s age to be over 300 years.I had to walk about a football field length away to snap the photo of the full tree.
Oklahoma – it’s not the barren land you might think!
Now, if you’ve seen an oak tree larger than this, I would like to hear about it!
Thank you for letting us know, Ron. Very sad indeed.
I’m very sad that the tree is no longer there, but I’m happy I had the opportunity to hug it!! Thanks for sharing your memories Jenine!
The posting regarding the “Largest Oak Tree in Oklahoma, Maybe the World” did not mention the trunk measurements for the Tamaha Oak tree so I cannot be sure it was actually the largest. I monitored a large bur oak tree on Medicine Bluffs Creek at Fort Sill for 30 plus years that measured 16 feet around the trunk at chest level. It was approximately 250 years old and dominated the surrounding forest. I authored a book in 2010 called “Silent Witness, The Diary of a Historic Tree at Fort Sill” (Donning Company Publishers, Virginia Beach, VA) which relayed the history of Oklahoma (emphasis on SW OK) from the perspective of the tree. The history is written in the first person with myself serving as the “Interpreter”. Unfortunately, the massive ice storm of 2010 killed the tree when the massive trunk exploded effectively ending its tenure. A most unusual story told in a most unusual manner.
I would love to read your book! Thank you so much for dropping by to share this with us!
The hard bound book SILENT WITNESS, THE DIARY OF A HISTORIC TREE AT FORT SILL can be ordered from The Cross Timbers Trading Company, 2101 Oak Street, Duncan, OK 73533 or usscout1870@sbcglobal.net for $25. Thanks.
My mother in-law has a tree in her back yard that is a18′ 9 inches around
Please refer to this other blog post to read further comments about the tree’s history: