Three Liberty Trees will be dedicated at Stewart Park in Ithaca on July 10 as part of the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The Chief Taughannock Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will hold the free public dedication at 10 a.m., with the ceremony expected to include a ribbon-cutting, a commemorative proclamation from Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo and participation from local officials, community leaders and area youth.
Expected participants include Congressman Josh Riley, Assemblymember Anna Kelles and Cantelmo. Campers from the Ithaca Youth Bureau's Stewart Park Day Camp are also expected to attend and participate.
The Liberty Tree project is meant to honor the role of Liberty Trees during the American Revolution while creating a lasting community feature at the park. The term traces to an elm tree in Boston that served as a gathering place for colonists protesting British rule in the 1760s and 1770s.
The chapter worked with the city of Ithaca to choose a location in Stewart Park and select tree species suited to the site. The three trees are an American sycamore, a northern red oak and a heritage oak.
Organizers said the American sycamore is native to a wide range of the United States and can grow to about 100 feet tall. The northern red oak provides wildlife habitat and acorns that serve as a high-calorie food source. The heritage oak is a hybrid between native bur oak and English oak and is described as cold tolerant and well suited to the Finger Lakes region.
A commemorative plaque will be installed at the site. It will say the Liberty Trees were planted by the Chief Taughannock Chapter to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States and dedicated in July 2026.
Chapter Regent Amy W. Little said the original Liberty Trees were places where residents gathered in support of freedom, self-government and the principles that shaped the nation.
"As we commemorate America's 250th anniversary, we are honored to dedicate these Liberty Trees as a gift to the greater Ithaca community and as living reminders of our nation's founding principles," Little said in the announcement.
The chapter said the project continues its work on tree planting and community beautification. In 2023, it launched an effort to plant American chestnut trees across the Finger Lakes region in recognition of National Arbor Day and the approaching semiquincentennial.
The chapter also partnered with Friends of Stewart Park and the Ithaca Youth Bureau. In connection with the dedication, it donated Revolutionary War-themed books to Elayne's Lending Library in Stewart Park, including titles about women and Black heroes of the American Revolution.
The ceremony may include a musical performance by Opus Ithaca.
Chapter Corresponding Secretary Melinda Oakes said the project connects the DAR's focus on history, education and community service.
"The Liberty Trees honor the sacrifices of the past while providing beauty, shade, and inspiration for the future," Oakes said.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.