Davie poplar
The Davie poplar is a large tulip tree ( Liriodendron tulipifera ) with an estimated age of 300 to 375 years. The tree stands on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . It was named Davie Poplar in honor of William Richardson Davie , a general from the American Revolutionary War and founder of the university.
The tree was already a large specimen when the plans for the university were made in 1792 . Legend has it that after a good summer picnic under the tree, Davie personally chose the campus site around the tree. This story is not true, however, because the location of the university was selected by a six-member committee in 1792. The tree was not named Davie until almost a century later by Cornelia Phillips to commemorate that legend.
The most persistent legend associated with the tree is that as long as the Davie poplar stands, the university will be fine and growing too. If the tree falls, however, the university should also be doomed. Because of this, many measures have been taken to preserve the tree.
Web links
- McCorckle Place - Short article on McCorckle Place, where the tree is.
- Davie Poplar Tour Stop - Davie Poplar in the UNC virtual tour.
Coordinates: 35 ° 54 ′ 45.5 ″ N , 79 ° 3 ′ 5.5 ″ W.