A piece of American history was planted in Centre County on Saturday as part of the lead-up to the celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday in 2026.
Representatives of the America250PA initiative and the Pennsylvania Freemasons joined local community members and leaders to dedicate a Liberty Tree on the grounds of the Centre Furnace Mansion in State College.
The original Liberty Tree — a large elm in Boston — was the site of the first protests against British rule of the American colonies and later became a rallying point for the Patriots to plan their resistance. After the tree was cut down by Loyalists during the Siege of Boston in 1775, similar trees were designated throughout the colonies as symbols of freedom
The sapling planted at Centre Furnace Mansion, the home of the Centre County Historical Society, was grown from the seeds of the last known Liberty Tree, which stood on the campus of St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland before it was felled by Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
“The Centre Furnace Mansion site is a powerful place to reflect on the birth and growth of our nation,” Mary Sorensen, CCHS executive director, said in a statement. “It’s where the iron industry helped shape Centre County’s early development. Planting a Liberty Tree here, as we look ahead to 2026, reminds us how deeply connected our local history is to America’s founding story.”
America250PA is a commission established by the General Assembly and governor in 2018 to plan and coordinate “the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvania’s integral role in that event and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present and future.”
The America 250PA Liberty Tree Project will plant one certified Liberty Tree in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties between now and the nation’s semiquincentennial in 2026.
“Our goal is to highlight 250 years of Pennsylvanians’ contributions to our nation,” Cassandra Coleman, executive director of America250PA, said in a statement. “Planting certified Liberty Trees and watching them grow over the next 250 years, just as our Commonwealth and nation did over the last 250 years, is something we are excited to be part of and leave here as a legacy of this Commission for future generations.”
Centre County’s Liberty Tree planting is a partnership among America250PA, the Pennsylvania Freemasons, CCHS and local organizations, including The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, and Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village.
“We encourage residents and visitors alike to experience the Liberty Tree at Centre Furnace Mansion—one of the most significant historical sites in Happy Valley,” Fritz Smith, president and CEO of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, said. “It’s a place where our community’s past and future intersect, and this new Liberty Tree is a meaningful addition to the story we invite guests to discover.”
Locally, America250PA: Centre County highlights the community’s past, present and future with a them of “Then & Now,” tracing its evolution from its iron-making and agriculture roots to a center of innovation, education, sustainability and tourism, according to the organization. Historic preservation and education, community engagement, tourism development, cultural enrichment and infrastructure projects intended to strengthen the region’s recreational, cultural and economic opportunities.
Statewide, America250PA is partnering with organizations and individuals. The Freemasons’ Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is sponsoring the planting of the Liberty Trees, and plaques placed beside them will indicate the planting of each tree by America250PA and the Pennsylvania Freemasons.
“Thousands of brave men made the ultimate sacrifice for liberty during the Revolution,” Robert Brink, of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, said. “Many of our nation’s founding fathers were Freemasons, and undoubtedly, they were among the men who met beneath Liberty Trees to plan the revolt and fight for freedom. I cannot think of a more appropriate way to observe the 250th anniversary of our nation than to beautify our great state and enliven the spirit of patriotism throughout our great Commonwealth.”
