Tour Detail

The white pine has long, slender, soft needles grouped in fascicles of five. It also produces elongated brown cones reaching 3-8’’ in length. White pine seeds are favored by many animals including black bears, rabbits, squirrels and many birds. Some mammals, such as beavers, hares, porcupines, rabbits and mice, even eat the tree’s bark. It also provides nesting sites for many birds including woodpeckers, common grackles, mourning doves, chickadees and nuthatches.

The white pine has had both commercial and aesthetic appeal. It has been harvested throughout the country. In the 19th century, its harvesting in the Midwest played a major role in America's westward expansion. Others wanted to protect the tree from destruction. Henry David Thoreau claimed that "There is no finer tree" than the white pine. Today, in Indiana, it is listed as rare. This specific tree is unique in that not only its large size, but also the ring in its side prove its old age. In the early days of the university, the ring was used to tie up animals, such as cattle and horses.