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192:. The tree's volume had previously been estimated at 4,300 cubic feet (120 m), but a 2006 survey by Will Blozan of the Native Tree Society has measured the volume at well over 5,100 cubic feet (140 m), making The Senator not only the largest Bald Cypress in the United States, but also the largest tree of any species east of the Mississippi River.
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On
February 28, 2012, the Florida Division of Forestry said they arrested a 26-year-old woman on suspicion of starting the Senator fire. The suspect stated that she regularly went to the tree site when the park was closed. On the night of January 16, 2012, she lit a fire with debris so that she could
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In
October 2013, Seminole County officials allowed a small, select group of artists and woodworkers to create works of art for the county from the charred remains of the Senator. Artisans have created a variety of items, including vases, pens, ornate flutes, and sculptures. Some of the items have
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that she was trying to smoke but the fire got out of control. Officials said that they found images of the fire being started on the woman's laptop and on her cellphone. Following a plea agreement resulting in a suspended sentence, she was ordered to jail for 30 months for violation of probation in
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On March 2, 2014, Big Tree Park was re-opened to the public after being closed for almost a year after the fire that destroyed The
Senator. A memorial was constructed which includes signage along the newly renovated boardwalk, a playground piece that mimics a bald cypress tree stump and a clone of
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On
January 16, 2012, a fire was reported at the top of the Senator tree, which burned from the inside out, "like a chimney." Firefighters arrived to try to extinguish the blaze, but the tree collapsed. The charred remains of the tree now stand only 20 to 25 feet (6.1 to 7.6 m) tall.
180:. At the time of its demise in 2012, it was approximately 3,500 years old, 125 feet (38 m) tall, and with a trunk diameter of 11.27 feet (3.44 m). In 2012, the tree was killed when a drug addict started a garbage fire near the base.
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that was named companion tree to The
Senator. It is 89 feet (27 m) high 10 feet (3.0 m) in diameter, is estimated to be 2,000 years old and is another one of the oldest trees in the world.
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and other Native
American groups who lived throughout Central Florida used this tree as a landmark. In the late 19th century, the tree attracted visitors even though much of the surrounding land was
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reportedly visited The
Senator and dedicated the site with a commemorative bronze plaque. A photo that was published of Coolidge and his wife near the tree was reported by the
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A clone of the
Senator was located, and currently is growing at the entrance to Big Tree Park. The clone was provided by Marvin Buchanan. Buchanan had secured some
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been made available for sale at art shows, and officials are working toward making both a permanent and traveling exhibit with some of the artifacts.
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to have been doctored. The plaque and portions of an iron fence were stolen by vandals in 1945 and never recovered.
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Located 40 feet (12 m) from where The
Senator stood is another old cypress in the same Big Tree Park named
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408:"The Senator: Sara Barnes Charged With Setting Fire That Destroyed 3,500-Year-Old Florida Cypress Tree"
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destroyed the top of the tree, reducing its height from 165 feet (50 m) to 126 feet (38 m).
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The
Senator that was planted near the playground. The name for the clone is "The Phoenix".
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As of 1993, the Senator was estimated to be 3,500 years old, making it the 12th
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after the Senator suffered wind damage and cloned it on his tree farm.
379:"The Senator Cypress is re-elected to top position in Eastern Forests"
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493:"Investigator: Fire that destroyed 'The Senator' was not arson"
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Moses Overstreet, who donated the tree and surrounding land to
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Biggest and oldest bald cypress tree in the world until 2012
580:"Seminole County's 'The Senator' tree lives on in art"
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558:"Woman who burned down giant tree going to prison"
235:for a park in 1927. In 1929, former US President
582:. SeminoleVoice.com. 2013-10-17. Archived from
631:"Forgotten experiment resurrects The Senator"
204:Looking up from the base of The Senator, 1967
176:tree in the world, located in Big Tree Park,
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528:"Woman arrested in 'The Senator' tree fire"
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467:"The Senator cypress tree at Big Tree Park"
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381:. Eastern Native Tree Society. 2006-05-08.
673:Study Conducted by The Native Tree Society
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698:Works Progress Administration in Florida
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607:. SeminoleCountyFL.gov. Archived from
356:from the original on November 23, 2015
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442:"The Senator - Florida's Big Tree"
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556:Stutzman, Rene (March 31, 2016).
668:The Senator – Florida's Big Tree
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641:from the original on 2019-10-20
538:from the original on 2021-11-29
418:from the original on 2012-06-26
385:from the original on 2014-02-03
344:"Seminole County Big Tree Park"
406:Campbell, Janie (2012-03-04).
33:Remains of The Senator in 2021
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663:Big Tree Park in Longwood, FL
629:Babcock, Isaak (2013-03-06).
218:Works Progress Administration
703:2010s individual tree deaths
708:Individual trees in Florida
444:. Floridata. Archived from
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227:The Senator was named for
491:Pavuk, Amy (2012-01-16).
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324:List of individual trees
190:oldest tree in the world
117:28.719778°N 81.3312917°W
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122:28.719778; -81.3312917
301:Lady Liberty in 2007.
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229:Florida State Senator
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319:List of oldest trees
169:was the biggest and
688:Individual conifers
293:Lady Liberty (tree)
162:The Senator in 2011
154:The Senator in 2012
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86:Taxodium distichum
718:Longwood, Florida
635:Maitland Observer
287:Lady Liberty Tree
249:Fire and collapse
178:Longwood, Florida
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108:81°19′52.65″W
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713:Oldest trees
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360:November 22,
358:. Retrieved
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307:Lady Liberty
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260:crystal meth
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174:bald cypress
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105:28°43′11.2″N
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79:Bald cypress
167:The Senator
141:Date felled
136:c. 1550 BCE
133:Date seeded
120: /
96:Coordinates
682:Categories
645:2019-10-20
615:2014-06-05
590:2014-06-05
542:2021-11-29
513:2012-01-16
452:2012-01-16
422:2012-09-01
389:2012-01-16
330:References
184:Background
267:Post-fire
222:hurricane
210:Seminoles
693:Taxodium
639:Archived
536:Archived
416:Archived
383:Archived
351:Archived
313:See also
281:branches
258:see the
196:History
75:Species
263:2016.
171:oldest
354:(PDF)
347:(PDF)
214:swamp
362:2015
208:The
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
