Oregon Heritage Tree Committee seeks nominations for 2026 program

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee are inviting communities across the state to nominate and celebrate heritage trees for 2026.

The call for nominations coincides with the start of Arbor Month in April, which the committee uses to promote the educational and historical value of Oregon's most significant trees. Individuals and heritage groups are encouraged to submit trees with documented historic significance to the state.

Established in 1996, Ore. became the first state in the nation to launch a state-sponsored heritage tree program. Since its inception 30 years ago, the committee has designated 85 trees across 26 of Oregon's 36 counties, with 79 of those trees still living today at various historic sites, public gardens and hiking trails.

Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Dave Hedberg said these designations offer a tangible link to the past. He encourages residents to visit state or local heritage trees to experience history firsthand. "Visiting an Oregon Heritage Tree is a chance to engage your senses and learn about local history in the real world – not just in books and on screens," Hedberg said. "All of Oregon's Heritage Trees are deeply connected to the people of the past. Enjoying these trees today connects us with our history."

Several notable trees are already designated in the state, including the Big Tree at La Pine State Park. This tree is recognized as the largest circumference Ponderosa pine in the world. Other sites include the Williamson-Abbot Expedition Ponderosa, which marks a campsite for a government survey to bring the railroad west and the Huntington Wagon Road Junipers, which were blazed in 1864 along an ancient Native American trail.

The committee is specifically looking for nominations that reflect a more diverse range of Oregon's history. Al Tocchini serves as the vice-chair of the Oregon Heritage Tree Committee and noted that the group wants to highlight stories that have historically been overlooked. "In particular, we are seeking underrepresented stories of Oregon's diverse populations in places that are accessible to the general public," Tocchini said.

The Oregon Travel Information Council, a semi-independent state agency created in the 1970s, administers the program. While originally formed to manage highway logo signs following the Highway Beautification Act, the agency now also oversees the Oregon Historical Marker program and 39 rest areas at 25 locations throughout the state. These rest areas are open 24 hours a day and are free for public use.

Individuals, cities, tourism organizations and heritage groups can nominate trees with documented historical significance through the program's website. The committee also provides an interactive map for the public to locate currently designated trees across various counties.

The nomination form is available at oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees. The committee will review these submissions as they prepare for the 2026 spotlight.