Snohomish Tree Tour

Long before Europeans arrived, Native American tribes — the Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Snoqualm- ie, Skykomish, and Pilchuck — inhabited this area.

The native peoples lived in family groups in cedar long houses, and moved up and down the rivers from ocean to mountains in hand-hewn dugout canoes. They had a highly developed culture based on fishing for salmon and foraging for other foods found naturally in the densely forested land.

This great natural wealth also attracted the first Europeans. In 1855, entrepreneur E.C. Ferguson persuaded three of his friends — E.T. Cady, E.H. Tucker and H. Barne — to lay claim to property along the river.

Their reasoning was to take advantage of a proposed military road, to run from Steilacoom to Bellingham. The road never materialized, but the town of Snohomish was born.

Big-leaf maple, red osier dogwood and cotton- wood trees lined the banks of the Snohomish River, while dense forests of hemlock, fir and mighty cedar blanketed the valley and hills surrounding the fledgling community.

As the river provided a cheap means of transportation, forestry became the first substantial industry. Fortunes were made as the town blossomed.

Some trees on this tour were planted at the time when these grand homes were originally built to house the wealthy lumber baron families.

We invite you to stroll and wonder at these amazing trees which have been carefully preserved along with our Historic District.

All trees have a story to tell; we just must be very still to listen and hear.

Introduction # 1

Meet your guide, John First, and learn about the Snohomish Tree Tour.

Stop # 2 – Carnegie Library

Learn about the three towering trees planted near the recently restored Snohomish Carnegie Library, at the corner of 1st and Cedar streets.

Stop # 3 – Pin Oak

Travel to the Snohomish City Hall, 116 Union Ave, and hear about the two large Pin Oaks nearby.

Stop # 4 – Deodar Cedar

Up at the top of the hill in Snohomish, at 220 Union Ave, learn about the magnificent true cedar, the Deodar Cedar tree.

Stop # 5 – Cherry

On the west side of the yard behind a white picket fence. A magnificent large, twisted trunk on this cherry tree.

Stop # 8 – Camperdown Elm

Contorted branches and weeping canopy. Best viewed in winter, when its leaves don’t obscure the branches.

Stop # 9 – Sassafras tree

Varying leaf shapes, with an excellent orange-to-scarlet fall color. Bark of the roots is sometimes used to make tea.

Stop # 10 – Japanese Walnut

“Champion Trees of Washington State” by Robert Van Pelt, which documents the largest known examples of species, credits this tree for featuring the “largest crown”.

Stop # 11 – Chinese Chestnut

This outstanding chestnut also is included in “Champion Trees of Washington State”. Large edible nuts are enclosed in a prickly burr. Mr. Hendrie, one of the town’s first druggists, brought the tree here as a seedling from this native New England.

Stop # 13 – Shagbark Hickory

Mature Shagbarks feature a trademark shaggy bark. They can reach 90 feet in height and live up to 200 years. Shagbarks bear leaves up to two-feet long and edible nuts with an excellent flavor.

Stop # 14 & # 15 – American Elm and Common Horse Chestnut

There are several large examples of American Elms at this stop. The Horse Chestnut trees have large masses of white flowers with pink markings.

Stop # 19 – California Bay / Oregon Myrtle

An unusually large specimen with powerful aromatic leaves which, when crushed, may be used as a more potent substitute for bay leaves in cooking.

Stop # 22 – Saucer Magnolia

This lovely shaped Magnolia tree has white and purple tulip-like flowers in April.

Stop # 23 – London Plane Tree

This large tree has peeling, cream colored bark is a noticeable characteristic of plane trees.

Stop # 24 – Sourwood Tree

Featuring unbelievably brilliant, scarlet fall color, Sourwoods and a native under-story tree in pine forests of the southeastern United States.

Stop # 25 – Japanese Maple

This is a beautiful, mature example of the popular Japanese Maple tree.

Stop # 26 – 1314 3rd Street

Franklin Tree – This oddly-shaped specimen of the rare Franklin produces large, white, fragrant camellia-like flowers, and in the fall features beautiful scarlet and orange foliage.

Monkey Puzzle Tree – The Monkey Puzzle Tree, an arboreal oddity, is native to Chile.

Kousa Dogwood – Has white flowers in spring, followed by bright red fruit that hang from branches like strawberries; striking exfoliating bark; yellow to scarlet fall color.

Stop # 27 – Gingko Tree

Gingkos survived to present day only in China, but they once had a wide range. Petrified gingko forests are found in eastern Washington.

Stop # 28 – Sugar Maple

This maple was planted in the early 1900s by Robert Hazeltine, the town’s first mailman. It came from a tree in the Hazeltines’ hometown in Whitehall, Mich., and served as a memory of their roots.

Stop # 29 – Big Leaf Maple

This is a wonderful example of Washington State’s large, native maple.