American Indians used trees not only to mark a trail but also to signal the presence of important features, some of which were critical for survival. Indian marker trees are living witnesses to their past way of life and a significant part of this nation’s cultural heritage. Volunteers for the Texas Historic Tree Coalition (TxHTC) work diligently to find, research, verify, recognize, and celebrate these priceless cultural treasures.
If you think you may have found a potential Indian marker tree and you would like to nominate it for recognition, please go to the “Trees” dropdown menu above and select Indian Marker Tree Nomination Form (next to the last item on the list) and complete as much of the information as possible. Please know, the more information you can provide, the better the tree’s chance is for consideration. An example of an Indian Marker Tree Certificate:
303 SANDIA INDIGENOUS MARKER TREE LIPAN APACHE TREE REGISTRY
TxHTC is passionate about its purpose to increase awareness and understanding of Indian marker trees. The coalition promotes wise and responsible stewardship of these trees and views them as cultural assets that must be carefully managed. TxHTC strives to educate the general public’s understanding of the significance of these trees to the traditions of American Indians.
Almost 1,000 trees have been nominated as Indian marker trees but less than 20 thus far have been formally recognized. Not only must the shape and age of the tree be able to meet specific criteria, but evidence of a direct relationship between American Indians and the tree (or the tree’s immediate surroundings) must be corroborated by a reliable source. In addition, the purpose of the tree must be established.
The coalition has worked with the Comanche Nation in the recognition of marker trees for many years. In December 2021, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) published the ‘Comanche Nation Research Report’, which is part of TxDOT’s Tribal Histories Project. It is a chronological history of the Comanche Nation and its people.
An excerpt from the introduction offers a summary, stating:
The following research report is organized chronologically
and was compiled in consultation with the Comanche Nation’s
Historic Preservation Office from both historic works and
contemporary sources. Works consulted include ethnohistories,
linguistic studies, tribal history compendiums, oral history, and
folklore from both twentieth-century and contemporary contexts.This research report was designed to facilitate the extraction of
geographic data, along with calendar and event information, to
populate a GIS dataset for use by transportation planners and the
Tribe (Appendix). Information from the narrative and GIS dataset
(to the extent permissible by the Comanche Nation) is also
intended to be readily adapted for use in archeology reports and
for educational outreach materials. (TxDOT Tribal Histories:
Comanche Nation Research Report, pg. 3)
TxHTC recommends reading the report for a better understanding of the Comanche people and their history as seen through their eyes: https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot-info/env/toolkit/415-03-rpt.pdf.
The Treaty Oak in Austin is one of the most famous trees in Texas. Also known as a Comanche Council Oak, its history and previous relationship with American Indians in Texas has been well documented. Its reputation as a historic council tree made it a natural candidate for further research and recognition as a Comanche …Read More
Not all Comanche Marker Trees are old or bent…some were recently planted. Continuing the marker tree tradition, two Pecan trees planted in Quanah, Texas were declared to be Comanche Marker Trees. On September 25th, 2020, one Pecan was planted across the street from the Hardeman County Historical Museum in the Heritage Park and another one …Read More
The Sandia Lipan Apache Indigenous Marker Tree in Nueces County is the first such tree to be formally recognized by the Texas Historic Tree Coalition on behalf of the Lipan Apache people. It was honored and officially recognized November 8, 2025, and dedicated in memory of [3] Domingo Castro Carrillo (March 5, 1939-November 7, 2023), …Read More
A Post Oak located in Tarrant County; Texas was determined to have been bent by the Comanche at least 150 years ago. Since being bent, this resilient Post Oak has survived two lightning strikes with one being on one of its three upright trunks. It also survived and witnessed the development of the surrounding properties. …Read More
In the 1800s, the Comanche were known for using the Big Bend area for war trails with several different paths to choose from. Their typical destination was either a route of escape from raids on settlers or a journey to Spanish frontier towns in what is now Mexico. The Comanche often traveled by the light …Read More
The Comanche Council Oak is a Live Oak in Landa Park, New Braunfels, Texas. It is a massive tree believed to be over 300 years old and when it was measured in 2014 it was already over 8.6 feet in diameter near the base. The height was over 50 feet, and the crown spread was …Read More
In March of 2011, a Pecan tree in Holliday, Texas, was brought to the attention of the Texas Historic Tree Coalition (TxHTC) by Mr. Ken Fibbe, a reporter for the Times Record News. Mr. Fibbe was introduced to the tree by Mr. Don Briix, a local resident who originally noticed the tree after he had …Read More
Comanche cultures and traditions are passed down from generation to generation through oral instruction and visual aids. Comanche storytellers would tell stories of Earth’s creation, and of how the wild animals or buffalo were released on earth. They told legends of mythological characters, often animals with human traits or character flaws, whose story supported the …Read More
Eastern Red Cedars were used by the Comanche for a number of important reasons, but this is the only tree of this species recognized as a Comanche Marker Tree. Small for a tree of its age, it proved it was old enough to qualify as a marker tree when tree cookies from its wounds provided …Read More
The Cross Timbers ecosystem in Irving was an area of great significance to the Comanche in the mid-eighteen hundreds. This particular area of Dallas County featured scenic views of Red Oaks, Post Oaks, prairie grass, wildflowers, acorns the women ground into a paste for food, native medicinal plants the healers used to make medicines, as …Read More