This website updates and replaces the hardcover book titled, Famous Trees of Texas, which was first published in 1970 by the Texas Forest Service, through Texas A&M University Press. The 3rd Edition was published in 1984 and is now out of print.

As such, this site represents the newest "edition" of the hardcover book. Improvements include searches that can display trees by county, species, or historical topic. We also provide accurate directions to each living tree and offer more recent images, so you can "tour" the trees either from the seat of your car or the comfort of your home or office (take a tour now!). For students and history buffs, we've linked each tree to a specific period in Texas history to make research easier. And we now offer the opportunity to nominate new trees. But even with these updates, we have retained much of the original text, all of the historic trees - living and dead - and hopefully, the spirit of the original book.

We've made a few edits, here and there. Some of the stories have been updated, references to specific ranches have been cut, and we dropped the word "the" from each tree name. All directions to trees have been updated. Seven trees featured in the 3rd Edition have been omitted; originally included due to their status as a national champion for their species, all are either dead or no longer champ. For those interested in big trees rather than historic trees, a separate listing for state and national champion trees in Texas can be found at http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/.

But some things haven't changed. Now 35 years after the original publication, our purpose -- as stated in the Preface to the 3rd Edition -- remains the same: "to memorialize those trees which have been witness to some of the exciting periods and events in Texas' frontier history." New trees added to this site in future years will conform to this original purpose.

Credits

The idea to convert Famous Trees of Texas from a book into a web-based product came out of necessity. In 2001, the supply of hardcover books at Texas A&M University Press ran out and it was discovered that the original printing plates had been destroyed. Several Texas Forest Service employees deserve thanks and credit for developing this site:

• Pete Smith, staff forester: provided vision, leadership, and an original database design
• John Brinkley, student worker: put web site together by stringing together all the 1's and 0's in the proper order
• Courtney Viser, student worker: scanned photos, text, and wrote new directions to the trees
• Marilynn Grossman, Communications Director: provided moral support and editorial insight

Outside contractors also played important roles: Amy Warren (Amy Warren Designs), created the original look for the web pages and a "site map" to guide development. The watermark of the Rio Frio Landmark Tree on the home page was provided courtesy of artist, Yan Lee (Big Tree Studio).

Thanks also go to the USDA Forest Service, for providing funding through an Urban & Community Forestry program grant to the Texas Forest Service.