Our village is now part of the Liberty Tree project a movement to have Liberty Trees planted all over America to celebrate the 250th birth of America. The Liberty Tree, a long-lost symbol of the American Revolution, has been planted in Wandschneider Park next to the Downers Grove Historical Museum on Maple Avenue.
The story of the Liberty Tree dates back to 1646, when an elm tree was planted in Boston. By the 1760s, the tree was about 120 years old and had become an important gathering place for the Sons of Liberty . Recognizing its significance as a symbol of resistance, British troops cut down the tree in 1775.
But the idea of the Liberty Tree lived on. Throughout the colonies, people gathered beneath other trees that became known as “Liberty Trees”— places where colonists shared ideas and organized in support of their rights and, eventually, American independence.
Thanks to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the 250th anniversary of American independence is now commemorated in Downers Grove with the planting of a Liberty Tree.
Founded in 1890, the DAR is a worldwide organization dedicated to historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Its members are descendants of the patriots who helped secure American independence
The Downers Grove Chapter of the DAR, founded in 1910, arranged for the planting of this tree and the placement of a commemorative plaque officially dedicating it as a Liberty Tree—a lasting symbol of the ideals of the American Revolution.
We are proud to now have this Liberty Tree in our village as we celebrate the 250th birth of America.
