The History of the Planting of the Austin Oak Trees

Stephen F. Austin, the “Father of Texas,” was memorialized with the planting of a live oak tree at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Travis County, Texas.  The ceremony was the completion of a seven-year project of Mr. Billy Price, the present owner of the property where Austin died on December 27, 1836, at the home of his friend, Judge George B. McKinstry, in West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas.

In 1997, Mr. Price began collecting acorns from the trees that stood around the site where Austin died.  After cultivating the acorns into trees that could be planted, Price began a program to plant a Stephen F. Austin Live Oak in every county in the State.  The first tree was planted November 3, 1997, in Wythe County, Virginia, where Austin was born on November 3, 1793.  The first tree planted in Texas was at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Brazos County, Texas.

With the help of many entities, including the Sons and Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Mr. Price’s effort has come to an end.  Trees have been planted in all 254 Texas counties and at the Alamo in San Antonio (Bexar County), Goliad (Goliad County), the French Legation Museum in Austin, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco (McLennan County). The last tree was planted at the Texas State Cemetery, near Austin's grave.

By involving the school children of Texas, Price says “the trees symbolize that each child can have a part of Texas history in their county.  Throughout this project thousands of children have heard the story of Austin and have participated in conservation by planting the Austin live oak trees.”