Survivor Tree: A living symbol of resilience and hope

Nearly 30 years after it withstood the blast of a 4,000-pound bomb, the Survivor Tree—an American elm that became a symbol of resilience after the Oklahoma City bombing—continues to spread its message of hope. From its place at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the tree’s legacy has taken root across the country and, as of today, in the nation’s capital.

What is the Survivor Tree?

In the heart of downtown Oklahoma City, a century-old American elm tree once provided the only shade in a federal building's parking lot. According to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, employees used to arrive early just to park beneath its branches. On April 19, 1995, that same tree became a silent witness to one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil.

A 4,000-pound bomb exploded just yards away from the tree, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds more. In the hours that followed, federal agents nearly chopped the tree down to collect evidence caught in its limbs.

With roots dating back to Oklahoma's early days of statehood, the tree had already endured decades of change. After the bombing, it endured fire, debris, and scorching heat—but it lived and still stands today.

A Symbol That Stands Tall

Known as the Survivor Tree, the once-unassuming elm has become the centerpiece of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Burned and leafless in the bombing’s aftermath, the tree made a remarkable recovery and grew into a global symbol of strength and perseverance.

The tree survived windstorms, ice storms, and intense Oklahoma summers. When a historic October 2020 ice storm snapped its oldest branch, preservation crews worked in shifts to protect what remained.

OKC's Survivor Tree Damaged, Withstands Ice Storm

That broken limb was saved and was turned into a piece of art—another reminder of the tree’s ongoing story of survival.

Clones of the Survivor Tree were planted across the state, including at Scissortail Park.

Oklahoma Christian’s Memorial Plaza

Oklahoma Christian University dedicated a memorial: the Survivor Tree Memorial Plaza, a space designed for healing, reflection, and remembrance. It became the only place outside of New York City where a clone of the Oklahoma City Survivor Tree and a clone of the 9/11 Survivor Tree stood side by side.

Oklahoma Christian University To Dedicate Survivor Tree Memorial Plaza

“This is a special campus, and this place on our campus, I think, is most special of all,” said John deSteiguer, chancellor of Oklahoma Christian University.

The 9/11 tree was donated by Ron Vega, a former recovery worker and Memorial Senior Director of Design for the 9/11 memorial. Vega helped locate and save the tree at Ground Zero, then grew a clone in his yard in Queens. When a friend in Oklahoma called, he said he knew the tree had found its rightful place.

“That is a tree that was in my front yard. And now it’s part of your story,” Vega said.

OC Dedicates Memorial For Murrah Bombing And 9/11

Rooted in Resilience

At the Oklahoma City National Memorial, longtime groundskeeper Gabriel Taylor helped care for the Survivor Tree through years of storms.

“After the bombing, the tree was burnt. It was nothing but a twig,” Taylor recalled. “You can’t see that today because it’s repaired itself.”

Taylor helped remove ice from its branches during the 2020 storm that caused significant damage. Though one major branch fell, the rest of the tree held strong.

National Memorial Museum's Survivor Tree Thrives After Historic Ice Storm

“The Survivor Tree is an important symbol for all of the world,” Taylor said. “You can have something happen to you and then through that experience, you can grow from it and become better on the other side.”

OKC Survivor Tree planted in DC in commemoration of 30 years since the bombing