Cuyahoga County to Dedicate Heritage Tree as Part of America 250-Ohio Commemoration

Cleveland, OH (September 10, 2026) — Cuyahoga County and Lake View Cemetery will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the dedication of Cuyahoga County’s America 250-Ohio Legacy White Oak Tree on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Lake View Cemetery near the Garfield Memorial.

The dedication is part of Heritage Trees: Planting History, a statewide program of America 250-Ohio, the official state commission responsible for spearheading Ohio’s celebrations and commemorations around America’s semiquincentennial in 2026.

Through the initiative, each of Ohio’s 88 counties will receive a native Ohio white oak tree as a lasting legacy gift in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Trees are living history, and planting a white oak honors Ohio’s past, celebrates the present, and invests in the state’s environmental future.

The trees commemorate Ohio’s vital role in the nation’s founding while recognizing the unique history of the communities where they are planted. By placing them at significant locations across the state, Ohioans are preserving local heritage and creating lasting symbols for future generations.

The Heritage Trees program officially kicked off in Lima on Arbor Day 2025 (April 25, 2025), and will continue throughout 2026. The initiative draws inspiration from Boston’s historic Liberty Tree during the Revolutionary War period.

White oak trees were selected because they grow in many soil types, resist most tree diseases and are native to Ohio. A specific white oak species is chosen based on the county climate and purchased from a reputable Ohio tree nursery.

The Heritage Trees program is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Cenovus Energy and Supporting Sponsors Ohio Liquor and The Lubrizol Foundation. The program was created in partnership with Dawes Arboretum, Cox Arboretum MetroPark, Holden Forests & Gardens, Keep Ohio Beautiful, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Rowe Arboretum, and Secrest Arboretum.

Event Details
Date and time: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Location: Lake View Cemetery, near the Garfield Memorial
RSVP: executive@cuyahogacounty.gov

About America 250-Ohio

In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of theDeclaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration that reflects its unique character and contributions to the nation over the past 250 years. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (also known as the America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. Its charge is to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present and future. More information is available at America250-Ohio.org.

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