Do you live near an Oregon Heritage Tree?
Published 5:00 am Tuesday, April 7, 2026
April is Arbor Month, and the Oregon Travel Information Council is celebrating the trees that connect us to our history – including those in Columbia County.
The Oregon Heritage Tree Program – a preservation initiative overseen by the council – turns 30 this year. Since 1996, 85 trees across the state have been designated as heritage trees.
Of the 85 heritage trees in Oregon, 79 are still living. In Columbia County, an entire orchard has been given the distinction.
Columbia County’s heritage trees
Located at 1925 First St. in Columbia City, the apple and pear trees growing in the Dr. Charles Caples House Orchard are the only trees in Columbia County to receive recognition through the Oregon Heritage Tree Program.
Dr. Charles Green Caples was the first – and for many years the only – physician with medical training in Columbia County. His home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Three years later, the 130-year-old orchard surrounding the home was also recognized for its historic value during an April 20, 2008, dedication. Caples planted the trees shortly after bears destroyed the plum tree orchard that had existed on the property since 1870.
Three decades of the Oregon Heritage Tree Program
The Oregon Heritage Tree Program was the first state-sponsored program of its kind in the country. Its goal is to educate Oregonians about the value of heritage trees and promote their appreciation.
“Visiting an Oregon heritage tree is a chance to engage your senses and learn about local history in the real world – not just in books and on screens,” Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Dave Hedberg said. “All of Oregon’s heritage trees are deeply connected to the people of the past. Enjoying these trees today connects us with our history.”
In three decades of the program, heritage trees have been designated in 26 of Oregon’s 36 counties – but there’s room for more.
“We are particularly seeking underrepresented stories of Oregon’s diverse populations in places that are accessible to the general public,” committee Vice Chair Al Tocchini said.
To nominate a tree or grove to be recognized by the Oregon Heritage Tree Program, visit oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees/nominate-a-tree.
