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Baltimore Cemetery Will Dedicate Liberty Tree Descendant

Old St. Paul's Cemetery hosts a ceremony on October 11, 2026, honoring the 250th year of American independence.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Civic

Screen-print poster illustration showing a young tree sapling planted in soil against a backdrop of a stone wall and iron fence.
Old St. Paul's Cemetery in Baltimore will dedicate a descendant of the historic Liberty Tree on October 11, 2026, to commemorate the nation's 250th year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Old St. Paul's Cemetery on West Redwood Street will open to the public on October 11, 2026, for the dedication of a Maryland Liberty Tree descendant. The event marks the 250th year of American independence by planting a sapling from the tree that once stood at St. John's College.

Why it matters

The ceremony connects modern Baltimore to the state's revolutionary history by preserving the legacy of the original Liberty Tree, which was removed following Hurricane Floyd in 1999. It honors the site as a final resting place for historic figures including Samuel Chase, John Eager Howard, and George Armistead.

Gates open at 12 p.m. with the official ceremony starting at 1 p.m. The event serves as part of the broader 250th anniversary commemoration of American independence.

The players

Samuel Chase

He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

John Eager Howard

He served as a Continental Army officer during the Revolutionary War and later as the Governor of Maryland.

George Armistead

He was a United States Army officer known for his command at Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.

The details

The ceremony includes the formal planting and dedication of the tree alongside a new commemorative marker. The site holds significant historical weight as the burial ground for key figures, including George Armistead, who commanded Fort McHenry during the 1814 bombardment.

Timeline

  1. 1775: Annapolis residents named the original Liberty Tree.

  2. September 13-14, 1814: George Armistead commanded Fort McHenry during bombardment.

  3. 1999: The original Liberty Tree was taken down following Hurricane Floyd.

  4. October 11, 2026: The ceremony gates open at noon.

Roadmap

The event follows the preservation mission established by the Maryland Liberty Tree Project. This dedication at Old St. Paul's Cemetery is an expansion of the organization's goal to distribute genetic descendants of the historic tree across the state.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend the dedication on West Redwood Street at the start of the ceremony. The event provides the community with a tangible link to the city's role in the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The takeaway

This ceremony serves as a living monument to Maryland's revolutionary history by integrating historical preservation with public education. Participants can engage with the state's heritage by visiting the site of the newly planted descendant tree on the grounds of the historic cemetery.

Further reading

For more information on local commemorative events, visit the Baltimore Civic section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WMAR.

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