City Park has been a time-honored tradition for many New Orleanians. From the Flying Horses to the Botanical Gardens, there are endless activities that are great for families with kids of all ages. This historic park may have been created in 1854, but many trees predate the park by several centuries. Not many people are aware, but City Park is home to the oldest grove of mature live oaks in the world. Let’s check it out.

There are more than 30,000 trees peppered throughout City Park of all different types. You’ll find bald cypress, magnolia, slash pine, and of course, the iconic live oak.
New Orleans City Park/Facebook
Next time you take a casual stroll underneath the canopies of live oaks at City Park, remember to look up and take it all in.
New Orleans City Park/Facebook
Live oaks are quite possibly the most iconic tree of the South, and one of the most prevalent trees in New Orleans.
New Orleans City Park/Facebook
These majestic ancient oaks are some of the oldest live oaks in the world, with some of the oaks ranging between 750-900 years old.
New Orleans City Park/Facebook

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You’ll find the majority of City Park’s oldest and largest live oaks nestled along the lagoon. The McDonough Oak, Anseman Oak, and Suicide Oak are just a few of the ancient oaks that are still around, natural markers of a time when Native Americans camped in the area.
New Orleans City Park/Facebook
Native Americans weren’t the only ones to enjoy these beautiful trees. In the 1800s, men would gather near a set of oaks and defend their honor by dueling. Originally, there were two dueling oaks, but sadly one was lost in a hurricane in 1949. You can still visit the remaining oak, and if you listen quietly, maybe you’ll hear the residual sounds of past duels.
New Orleans City Park/Facebook
If you find yourself near Big Lake, take a seat and listen to the singing oak. This ancient oak is strung with a set of wind chimes that will ring out a pentatonic scale with the breeze.
New Orleans City Park/Facebook
With a life span of anywhere from several hundred to over a thousand years, we can expect to see these trees continue to grow and expand for quite the while.
New Orleans City Park/Facebook
If you would like to ensure that these trees are around for future generations, you can make a donation to the City Park Tree Fund.

To learn more or make a donation, click here.

What’s your favorite part about City Park? Let us know in the comments below!

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