News Release

Tree Removal at the Commandant’s House 

Tuliptree growing west of the Commandant’s House threatens the integrity of the historic structure.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: October 4, 2023

Contact: Alex Thibadoux, 617-284-0342 

CHARLESTOWN, MA – This fall, the National Parks of Boston will remove a large Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) growing immediately adjacent to the historic Commandant’s House in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Removal of the tree will prevent damage to the structure and ensure its safety during storm events. The location of the tree is problematic, as the roots affect the historic structure and surrounding hardscape, the branches restrict maintenance access, broken limbs strike the building, and deep shade contributes to moldy conditions.   

The Cultural Landscape Report for the Charlestown Navy Yard identified that a large shrub historically grew in this location and trees were absent on the west side of the building. The shrub was likely replaced with this Tuliptree tree sometime in the 1920s or early 1930s, prior to the construction of the enclosed porches. A similar tree will be planted elsewhere in the Charlestown Navy Yard in a more appropriate location and a large shrub will return to this setting to recreate the historic condition.   

The tree will be taken down in sections using a crane and the stump will be ground below grade. The work is expected to take two to three days to complete. Access to the work area will be restricted during this time to ensure visitor safety. 

About the National Parks of Boston  

The National Parks of Boston is a collection of three National Park Service sites – Boston National Historical Park, Boston African American National Historic Site, and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. Established by individual legislation and for designated purposes, the three units have come together under a unified organizational umbrella to collaborate in ways that celebrate our cultural heritage, reconnect people to history and nature, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities on land and on the water. For more information on the National Parks of Boston, visit: www.nps.gov/bost, www.nps.gov/boaf, and www.bostonharborislands.org.