Angel Oak – Johns Island, South Carolina
South Carolina | SC Picture Project | Charleston County Photos | Angel Oak
The Angel Oak on Johns Island is believed to be between 500 and 1,500 years old, making it one of the oldest live oaks in the country. While its height of 65 feet may not be impressive, the shaded area covered by its foliage extends over 17,000 square feet!
You will notice in these pictures that many of the Angel Oak’s limbs rest peacefully on the ground, weighed down by their venerable age. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact age of the tree due to the tendency of live oaks to develop heart rot, a condition which makes it impossible to obtain accurate core samples.
The tree’s name can be traced back to the original owners of the land, Martha and Justis Angel. The Angel Oak property was acquired by the City of Charleston in 1991. The tree is currently facing the threat of development and the destruction of its surrounding forest. While the Angel Oak itself is not in danger of being cut down, many people believe its neighboring forest has protected the tree throughout its long life. The forest provides shelter from storms, as well as adequate moisture and drainage. Additionally, it filters harmful pollutants before they reach the tree’s roots, bark, and leaves.
Many fear that the extensive residential and commercial development approved by the City of Charleston in 2009 will jeopardize the tree’s safety and survival. Some experts have warned that a premature death will be the end result. Make sure to check out the website Save the Angel Oak to learn about ways you can help to save this wonderful tree.
In addition to the peace and beauty the Angel Oak brings to its visitors, the tree has also been recognized as a 2000 Millennium Tree and as the 2004 South Carolina Heritage Tree. The Angel Oak is located at 3688 Angel Oak Road on Johns Island. It is 12 miles from downtown Charleston, and there is a gift shop and picnic areas for visitors. See a map to the park.
22 Comments about Angel Oak
August 23rd, 2010 at 5:15 am
We have visited this marvelous tree and found it to be so awesome. It surely would be a tragedy if it were ever destroyed.
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:33 pm
I was born in Charleston and growing up I remember a lot of about this tree. A couple of years ago I went back to see this amazing tree. It will be a shame if anything happen to it, it is a part of my history.
September 23rd, 2010 at 8:00 am
We agree! Make sure to check out http://www.savetheangeloak.org/ for information about how you can help to protect this amazing tree.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Oh how beautiful! I hope everything possible will be done to preserve the Angel Tree.
November 11th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
It is magnificent. We hope for the same, that everything will be done to save this beautiful tree.
November 13th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
We thought it was wonderful and cool and just wow! Now we are going to tell our family members!
November 16th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
It is one of the most beautiful trees in the world, you must see it for yourself!
December 15th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
My son moved to John’s Island and took me to see the Angel Oak on a recent visit. Words can not express the feelings of peace and that welled up inside of me as I stood and looked at this magnificent tree with the sunshine streaming thru it’s huge branches. Never before had I seen such a specimen! It and the surrounding forest must be preserved!
March 24th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
The Angel Oak tree has its beauties and our pride, we should save this tree. I was raised on Johns Island, and nothing that beautiful in nature should be demolished for homes and shopping centers. I attended Angel Oak Elementary and that was the first time I’d ever seen the Angel Oak tree resting in its beauty. Angel Oak Elementary was named after the tree, and without it there is no purpose for the school anymore, to me.
June 19th, 2011 at 9:59 am
I was born in Charleston, and later dated a young man from Wadmalaw Island. He took me to see this humongous tree, and at first I felt fear. As I stood there to view this wonder, I than felt a sense of peace. It was an AWE moment. Being a spiritual person I thought of God, and then I began to feel calm and a peace came over me. It was a breath taking moment which I will never forget. Please preserve this awesome wonder and the surrounding area that I know protects its enormous trunks and root systems. I was 25 years old at that time and it is now 32 years later, and the feelings are still the same … IT IS AN AWESOME WONDER.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
It was a sad day when Charleston confiscated this property and let it go as it has.
June 27th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I grew up climbing on this tree 35 years ago. I have special memories and I am sure a lot others do too! Please save the Angel Oak.
July 13th, 2011 at 8:47 am
So much of the natural beauty that was South Carolina’s — 20 foot sand dunes, pristine beaches, clear air — has been sacrificed to “progress.” Please don’t let the Angel Oak be added to that list.
August 30th, 2011 at 1:28 am
This outstanding oak tree resembles to a tree in front of John’s home in the movie “Dear John”, filmed in SC.
October 25th, 2011 at 11:22 am
The Angel Oak is magnificent. Everything must be done to preserve this beautiful tree. The tree was here before SC was a state or even before our ancestors came to this country on the Mayflower.
November 12th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
I will never forget my visit there in 2004 — the beauty was silencing!
January 26th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
As a child growing up in Charleston, I spent many an afternoon climbing the magnificent limbs of the ‘Angel Oak’. It was, and will always be a magical place to me. I hope that it will always be protected, and that people will realize what a treasure it is.
March 28th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
I remember this awesome tree as a kid. Me and my friends cut school often and would climb that tree. This was in the early 70s. I live in Texas now and miss Johns Island very much.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
A beautiful and sacred place such as this should not be destroyed. Our family was fortunate to be able to visit this awesome place in 2003 and we all fell in love with it. Our grandchildren were just a little over a year old and they had such a good time running through and around the branches. Please do not destroy this magnificient piece of God’s work.
April 18th, 2012 at 10:57 am
I am from New York, but I recently went down to Charleston to visit my son and family. Seeing this Angel Oak was the most enjoyable part of my visit. The closest word I can find to describe how I felt visiting this tree is “Spiritual.” Please do everything possible to keep it alive and healthy!
April 28th, 2012 at 8:24 am
We visited this area for the first time this summer. What I felt when I saw the tree was a since of awe, to see something that old and living. Then I thought how maybe that God had singled-out that tree, and protected it all these years. If He cared about that tree, how much more does He care for us!
I hope the tree remains until the end of time.
May 20th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
My husband and I saw the Angel oak in the early 70′s It was one of the most wonderful things I had ever seen. We were coming over to Charleston for a visit and I wanted to go back to the Angel tree. Reading here and finding out about the development I began to weep. If there could be the slightest change for damage to God’s gift to us we are lost as human beings. The decline of man is seen in the way he treats nature. I am so ashamed of what we have become.
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