Liberty Tree Eagle

When visiting the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, be sure to look for a bald eagle carved of wood from the last standing liberty tree!

Did you know?

The bald eagle was chosen as the emblem for the United States in 1782 for its symbol of strength and majesty. It was also thought to only have existed on this continent. Since then, we have discovered otherwise, but the bald eagle remains as the symbol of longevity and strength for our country.

The Liberty Tree Eagle

When The Providence Forum purchased the remaining Liberty Tree wood in 2001 and began a preservation and educational programs, world-renowned artisan Eugene Landon was commissioned to craft a series of historic items to be presented to various American citizens and organizations who best represent duty to country and honor to God.

Landon, who carved his first eagle as a 12-year-old Boy Scout, was honored by the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) in 2003 with its annual Cartouche Award for lifetime achievement. Using one of the remaining large pieces of Liberty Tree wood, he sculpted an intricate carving of the iconic American bald eagle. The eagle spans six feet across and three feet high and took approximately seven months to carve. The wood for this sculpture came from the last standing Liberty Tree which stood on the grounds of St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland and was cut down on October 25, 1999 after being damaged by Hurricane Floyd.

This symbol of strength and liberty was presented and gifted to the National Constitution Center (www.constitutioncenter.org) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2006. The Liberty Tree Eagle went on permanent display on October 12, 2006 and remains there to be viewed by an estimated 1 million visitors each year.