HUGHESVILLE, MD — State and local leaders officially launched the Maryland Liberty Tree Project on March 25, 2026, during Maryland Day ceremonies in Annapolis. The initiative will plant a tulip poplar Liberty Tree — a direct genetic descendant of Maryland’s original 1775 Liberty Tree — in all 23 counties and Baltimore City by the end of 2026.
The Southern Maryland National Heritage Area and historic preservation partners, including the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Preservation Maryland, the Maryland Center for History and Culture, and the Maryland Heritage Areas Coalition, are leading the effort. It ties directly to America250 commemorations of the nation’s founding.
“The Maryland Liberty Tree Project brings the ideals of a vibrant democracy to life and reminds us how deeply those principles are rooted in our complex history,” said Lucille Walker, executive director of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area and co-chair of the Maryland Heritage Areas Coalition. “By planting Liberty Trees across the state, we’re not only honoring our past, we are also doing what Maryland heritage areas do best: investing in places that bring people together, supporting environmental stewardship, and creating lasting benefits for future generations. Maryland stands alone among all 13 colonies in securing exact genetic copies of its original Liberty Tree, making every Maryland Liberty Tree planting not just a local treasure, but a living piece of America’s founding story.”
Liberty Trees originated in 1765 in Boston as symbols of colonial resistance to British rule. The concept spread to other colonies, including Maryland, where Annapolis residents adopted their own trees as emblems of freedom and unity. The original Maryland Liberty Tree, a tulip poplar on the campus of St. John’s College in Annapolis, was the oldest surviving example among the colonies until Hurricane Floyd felled it in 1999.
The project’s kickoff event took place at the William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street in Annapolis.
“The Liberty Tree serves as a symbol of the founding history of the United States and the community-based fight for self-government and inalienable human rights,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “This effort to plant Liberty Trees throughout Maryland’s heritage areas will coincide with our statewide work to plant 5 million new trees across the landscape by 2031. These two ongoing projects to highlight history and bolster Maryland’s natural resources through tree plantings will remind future generations of the priorities of our forefathers and honor the state’s current residents who are continuing to build a vibrant future.”
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will oversee plantings within heritage areas in every jurisdiction. Five regional events will serve as anchor celebrations.
In Southern Maryland, Liberty Trees will be planted at Jefferson Patterson Park in Calvert County, Thomas Stone National Historic Site in Charles County, Piscataway Park in Prince George’s County, and Historic St. Mary’s City in St. Mary’s County. Additional planting event details will be released soon.
The full list of planned planting locations includes: Allegany County — Canal Place Heritage Park Anne Arundel County / City of Annapolis — Paca House and Gardens Baltimore City — Druid Hills Baltimore County — Pickall (Ellicott’s Upper Mills), Patapsco Valley State Park Calvert County — Jefferson Patterson Park Caroline County — Adkins Arboretum Carroll County — Strawbridge Shrine, New Windsor Cecil County — Perryville Charles County — Thomas Stone National Historic Site Dorchester County — 2 Rose Hill Place Frederick County — Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick Garrett County — Casselman Bridge State Park Harford County — Havre de Grace Howard County — Avalon (Avalon Iron Works), Patapsco Valley State Park Kent County — Turners Creek Montgomery County — Gray Courthouse Prince George’s County — Accokeek / Piscataway Park Queen Anne’s County — RT18 Park at County Park & Rec Headquarters Somerset County — Janes Island State Park St. Mary’s County — Historic St. Mary’s City Washington County — City Park, Hagerstown Wicomico County — Pemberton Hall Worcester County — Calvin B. Taylor House Museum
The Maryland Liberty Tree Project formed in 2025 as a coalition that also includes the Maryland 250 Commission. Organizers say the living trees will encourage shared responsibility for democracy while supporting environmental goals.
Southern Maryland National Heritage Area officials noted that the project creates opportunities for community gatherings and education about Maryland’s role in the American founding. Each planting will stand as a tangible link to the ideals of liberty that shaped the United States.
This statewide effort aligns tree-planting for history with broader conservation work across Maryland. Residents in Southern Maryland can expect local ceremonies at the four designated sites, offering chances to participate in both historical reflection and environmental stewardship.