Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States South Carolina Johns Island The Angel Oak
AO Edited

The Angel Oak

One of the oldest living oak trees in the Southeast.

Johns Island, South Carolina

Added By
Katie Baker
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Showing the supporting posts and expansive limbs.   Joshua Tremper
  asdonkar / Atlas Obscura User
The tree is beautiful. So huge!!   mspiller46 / Atlas Obscura User
The Angel Oak   nfernandez / Atlas Obscura User
The Angel Oak   Lil Rose / CC BY-ND 2.0
The Angel Oak   nfernandez / Atlas Obscura User
  nfernandez / Atlas Obscura User
  asdonkar / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
Such a beautiful piece of living history!   pamc713 / Atlas Obscura User
An artist’s painting of the Angel Oak in progress   djean60 / Atlas Obscura User
The Angel Oak   cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
The Angel Oak   ohmiaohmy / Atlas Obscura User
The Angel Oak   ohmiaohmy / Atlas Obscura User
The Angel Oak   cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  nfernandez / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The fairytale-esque Angel Oak tree in Charleston, South Carolina, is thought to be one of the oldest living oak trees east of the Mississippi River. It stands 65 feet (20 meters) tall and measures 28 feet in circumference. An area of 17,000 square feet is shaded by its tentacular crown. The largest branch reaches 187 feet. Estimated to be between 400 and 500 years old, this southern live oak has survived several hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.

It was damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but has recovered and continues to grow. Southern live oaks are native to the lowland country of the coastal Carolinas. They tend to grow more outward than upward but, due to their age, the Angel Oak has done both. Its branches reach in all directions, with some driving underground and then growing back up above the surface. Its name comes from the Angel Estate, owned by couple Justus Angel and Martha Waight Angel. However, local legends say the ghosts of former slaves appear as angels around the tree. The tree is now the property of the City of Charleston. Recently, a plan for apartment development near the Angel Oak has been scrutinized and fought against by the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League.

They argue that the development would alter the groundwater flow to the tree and clear the nearby forests whose root systems are intimately related to the Angel Oak. The Angel Oak is featured in the novel The Heart of a Child by Emily Nelson. The area also hosts several artistic and social events throughout the spring and summer seasons. 

Related Tags

Trees World's Oldest Geological Oddities World's Oldest Trees Geology Plants

Know Before You Go

There are no shuttles to the tree park, but there is a very large parking space and the tree is free to view and enjoy!  Check the park's website for hours.

Community Contributors

Added By

katiebaker4

Edited By

snoweel, Mom0ja, treytatum, GizzysMama...

  • snoweel
  • Mom0ja
  • treytatum
  • GizzysMama
  • aclpurcell
  • oceansideauthor
  • e1savage
  • panchodog
  • jeffclstuff
  • asdonkar
  • tremperj
  • djean60
  • ohmiaohmy
  • cait7911
  • nfernandez
  • mspiller46
  • pamc713
  • askao555

Published

April 12, 2012

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.city-data.com/articles/Angel-Oak-Johns-Island-SC-1-400-Year-Old.html#b
  • http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/04/03/3870289/development-plan-threatens-ancient.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Oak
The Angel Oak
1758 Walpole Way
Johns Island, South Carolina, 29455
United States
32.721438, -80.082388
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Folly Boat

Folly Beach, South Carolina

miles away

The Waring Historical Library

Charleston, South Carolina

miles away

Charleston Tea Garden

Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South Carolina

South Carolina

United States

Places 102
Stories 15

Nearby Places

Folly Boat

Folly Beach, South Carolina

miles away

The Waring Historical Library

Charleston, South Carolina

miles away

Charleston Tea Garden

Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South Carolina

South Carolina

United States

Places 102
Stories 15

Related Stories and Lists

These 23 Trees Have Seen Some Things

List

By Gemma Tarlach

Related Places

  • Stockholm, Sweden

    Lyells Ek (Lyell's Oak)

    This tree was once used to calculate the decrease of the Baltic Sea.

  • Trollskogen

    Borgholm, Sweden

    Trollskogen (The Troll Forest)

    Crooked windswept pines give this old forest an enchanted and magical look.

  • Viggianello, Italy

    Italus

    The oldest scientifically dated tree in Europe lives on a remote cliff.

  • Jekyll Island, Georgia

    Driftwood Beach

    Constant erosion has created a surreal landscape of bleached and preserved fallen trees.

  • The Buttonball Tree

    Sunderland, Massachusetts

    The Buttonball Tree

    This giant Massachusetts sycamore is said to hold the dubious distinction of being the "widest tree East of the Mississippi!"

  • Prometheus Tree Stump

    Baker, Nevada

    Prometheus Tree Stump

    This crumbling stump is all that remains of what was once thought to be the oldest living organism.

  • Fortingall, Scotland

    The Fortingall Yew

    Possibly the oldest living thing in Europe, more likely a pagan survivor.

  • Ankerwycke Yew

    Windsor, England

    Ankerwycke Yew

    One of the oldest trees in Britain may have been witness to some of the country's formative moments.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.