The Travilah White Oak is a historic tree believed to be over 330 years old, located at the Potomac Oak Shopping Center at the corner of Travilah Road and Glen Road.
Predating the founding of the United States, this ancient oak was measured in January 2021 by the Maryland Big Tree Program at a circumference of 19 feet 1 inch, a height of 78 feet, and a crown spread of 110 feet.
Both the tree and the local community are named after Travilah Clagett, the area’s first postmaster in 1883. Although the shopping center nearby was built in 1979, the oak garnered national attention in 1989 when it faced the threat of being cut down for development.
In 1997, Friends of the Travilah Oak was established to protect and preserve this historic tree. The group collaborated with Hopkins and Porter Construction, Inc. to construct a fence, patio, and seating area around it; today, floodlights illuminate the oak at night while lightning rods safeguard it during storms.
The Travilah Oak now serves as a vibrant community focal point, hosting an annual “Travilah Oak Celebration” each fall to honor local heritage through hay rides, music, scarecrow building, and various demonstrations. Following the loss of other prominent white oaks in Maryland, such as the Wye Oak (2002) and Flora’s Oak (2008), the Travilah Oak has emerged as a strong candidate for Maryland State Tree, celebrated for its impressive health and longevity despite not being the largest or oldest white oak in the state.
