Marshall Beech Tree
Marshall University Arboretum

Marshall Beech Tree

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Marshall Beech Tree

A Living Symbol of Marshall University

Few trees have shaped the history and traditions of Marshall University as profoundly as the Marshall Beech Tree. For generations, a massive American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) stood near Old Main, witnessing the growth of the institution from its earliest days as Marshall Academy to the university known today. The tree became such an important campus landmark that it was widely recognized as a symbol of Marshall itself.

Bronze plaque dedicated in 1957 honoring the Marshall Beech Tree as a symbol of Marshall University's history, values, and traditions.

The original Marshall Beech Tree was commemorated by a plaque dedicated in 1957 by Omicron Delta Kappa. The inscription describes the tree as “the spirit and symbol of Marshall College” and celebrates its connection to the university’s history, values, and traditions.

Learn about American Beech

A Witness to Generations of Students

The original beech tree predated Marshall Academy and was already a mature tree when the school’s first students and teachers arrived in 1837. For more than a century, it stood beside Old Main while generations of students, faculty, and visitors gathered beneath its branches.

Historic black-and-white photograph showing Old Main on Marshall University's campus with a large American beech tree in the foreground, as published in the 1919 Mirabilia yearbook.
1919 photo showing the original Marshall Beech Tree (left) standing in front of Old Main

 

The tree became a beloved campus gathering place. Students sought shade beneath its canopy, celebrated milestones in its presence, and often regarded it as a living link to Marshall’s past. As buildings, programs, and traditions evolved around it, the beech tree remained a familiar and enduring feature of campus life.

Loss of a Landmark

On April 27, 1987, the Marshall community lost the historic tree when it was toppled during a storm. Its fall was felt deeply across campus, where many viewed the tree as an irreplaceable part of the university’s heritage.

Yet the story of the Marshall Beech Tree did not end there.

Several years before the tree fell, James D. Rogers, then an assistant professor of geography, collected beech nuts from the tree and planted them at his home. One of those seeds successfully germinated and grew into a seedling. In 1989, during Marshall’s Alumni Weekend, that seedling was ceremonially planted near the site of the original tree, ensuring that its lineage would continue on campus.

The "Son of the Beech," grown from a seed of the original Marshall Beech Tree, stands near the historic dedication plaque on campus.

Often affectionately called the “Son of the Beech,” the descendant tree continues the legacy of the original Marshall Beech Tree today.

The Beech Tree’s Continuing Legacy

The influence of the Marshall Beech Tree extends beyond the landscape itself. Before the original tree was lost, a limb from the historic beech was used by alumnus and artist Byron Johnson to create Marshall University’s Grand Mace in 1986. The ceremonial mace is carried by the Chief Marshal during formal university occasions and remains one of Marshall’s most important academic symbols.

Faculty grand marshal leads a graduation procession while carrying the ceremonial Grand Mace, a symbol of Marshall University authority and tradition.

The connection between the Marshall Beech Tree and the Grand Mace ensures that a piece of the historic tree continues to play a visible role in university traditions.

Learn more about the Grand Mace

An Enduring Connection to Marshall’s History

Today, the Marshall Beech Tree serves as a reminder that trees can be more than elements of a landscape. They can become witnesses to history, symbols of community, and links between generations.

For nearly two centuries, the Marshall Beech Tree has represented continuity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of Marshall University. Its story remains one of the most significant in the Marshall University Arboretum.

Campus Location

Visitors can find the Marshall Beech Tree marker and the Son of the Beech near the northwest corner of Old Main. The map below highlights their location. Click on the map to open a larger version.

Campus map highlighting the location of the Marshall Beech Tree marker and Son of the Beech near the northwest corner of Old Main.

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Quick Facts

Common Name: Marshall Beech Tree
Species: American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Original Tree Location: Near Old Main, Marshall University
Plaque Dedicated: 1957 by Omicron Delta Kappa
Original Tree Lost: April 27, 1987, during a storm
Successor Tree Planted: April 22, 1989
Related Marshall Symbol: Grand Mace