McBaine Burr Oak (Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail)

Burr Oak tree with sunset behind

“The Great Burr Oak,” by Heath Cajandig is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Near Columbia, Missouri you’ll find a rare natural landmark. For nearly 400 years it has stood strong, withstanding storms, droughts, floods, vandalism and the progress of humankind. It’s the McBaine Burr Oak tree.

Estimated to be between 350 and 400 years old, locals know it as “the big tree.” It stands alone – no other tree is within 1,000 feet. As the largest burr oak tree in Missouri, it’s tied with another in Kentucky for the title of the national champion (largest) of the specie, Quercus macrocarpa. The tree’s trunk, with an impressive 287-inch circumference, is approximately 90 feet tall with a 130-foot spread. It would take four full-grown men to be able to wrap their arms around the trunk.

Since it stands about a half-mile from the banks of the Missouri River, the men of the Expedition would have traveled within sight of the majestic tree. Even then it would have been a large, magnificent landmark at just under 200 years old.

To see the McBaine Burr Oak, take Providence Road south out of Columbia until it turns to Route K. Route K will swing west and in McBaine will turn into Burr Oak Road. About two miles northwest of McBaine, you’ll see the tree on your right.

Source: Atlas Obscura

Visit the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail website for more stories of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

This map shows a range of features associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which commemorates the 1803-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. The trail spans a large portion of the North American continent, from the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. The trail is comprised of the historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, an auto tour route, high potential historic sites (shown in black), visitor centers (shown in orange), and pivotal places (shown in green). These features can be selected on the map to reveal additional information. Also shown is a base map displaying state boundaries, cities, rivers, and highways. The map conveys how a significant area of the North American continent was traversed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and indicates the many places where visitors can learn about their journey and experience the landscape through which they traveled.