From small acorns come massive live oak trees-and mighty ships. The live oak's dense, rot-resistant wood and large arching branches were ideal for building ships in the 1700s and 1800s. Over 2,000 live oaks might be used to build one hull. To provide wood for naval ships, President John Quincy Adams designated the first federal tree farm here in 1828. A resident, Henry M. Brackenridge, was hired to cultivate the trees. He initiated several experiments, but Adams' successor, Andrew Jackson, closed the reservation in a political squabble.
The live oak...is one of the most magnificent and delightful shade trees in the world...
Henry M. Brackenridge
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