Candler Oak - Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

The Candler Oak is a large old "Live Oak" (species: Quercus virginiana) located in Savannah, Georgia.

The newspaper image below is from Harper´s Weekly, January 14, 1865 when General Sherman captured Savannah. I´m not sure but I believe that the tree in the images is the Candler Oak.

The History of the Chandler Oak tree

• 1730 Candler Live oak starts to grow (approx. date)
• 1791 Georgia State Legislature grants land surrounding the mighty oak to be used for a seaman’s hospital
• 1803 hospital constructed and and remains in use until 1818.
• 1819 construction of the Savannah Poor House and Hospital on the land
• 1854 Hospital converted into the headquarters for the Medical College of Georgia.
  
• 1861 the hospital was used by the Confederacy during the Civil War.
• 1864 General Sherman captures Savannah and uses the hospital to treat his own soldiers and constructed a barricade around the tree to house wounded Confederate prisoners.
• 1930 site returned to service as the Warren A. Candler Hospital.
• 1980 Huntingdon II, Ltd. purchased the building where community health care organizations continued to operate until 2000.
• 1982 first preservation project of Savannah Tree Foundation initiated to save this historic tree which was under considerable stress and was not expected to survive more than another 20 years.
• 1984 A 6,804 square foot easement was established to protect the Candler Oak, which made history by being the first conservation easement on a single tree in the nation.
• 1985 asphalt was removed from the root area to revive the tree and a comprehensive schedule of maintenance.
• 2001 Candler Oak designated a Georgia Landmark and Historic Tree by the Georgia Urban Forest Council.
• 2004 Candler Oak nominated to the National Register of Historic Trees by American Forests
  

(information taken from http://www.savannahoffthebeatenpath.com/Tours/candler_oak.htm)

According to the sign at the site of the tree the Candler Oak is estimated to be 270 years old, have a spread of 107 feet, a circumference of 16 feet and a height of 50 feet.