The First 9/11 Survivor Trees

This Old Tree

The Survivor Tree is a well known tree planted at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City that was rescued from the rubble at the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks. It has become a stirring symbol of resilience and survival visited by millions of people.
But few people remember there were six other trees rescued from the site and transplanted in early October of 2001. Host Doug Still was part of the City Parks Department team that found them along with his former boss Bram Gunther. Doug and Bram recount the day they visited Ground Zero, describe how these remarkable trees were saved, and discover what's become of them.

Guest
Bram Gunther
Native New Yorker; former Chief of Forestry, Horticulture, and Natural Resources for New York City Parks; co-founding partner of Dirt Collective, a start-up focused on re-wilding.
linkedin.com/in/bram-gunther-b8346522b
Podcast Consultant
Martha Douglas-Osmundson
Music
"Running Circles (Instrumental)," Cody Francis
Theme Music
Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com
Artwork
Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home
Website
thisoldtree.show
Transcripts available.
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This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators.
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فصول

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Feeling the tragedy, but unclear how to connect (00:01:27)

3. Bram Gunther introduced (00:03:12)

4. Doug and Bram recall their 9/11 experiences (00:07:28)

5. The directive to inspect surviving trees at Ground Zero (00:12:59)

6. Trees in Trinity Church Park (00:14:48)

7. Burger King staging area check-in (00:16:18)

8. Walking the pit, finding 6 living trees (00:18:28)

9. Trees to be rescued, finding a transplant location (00:25:12)

10. Planting the trees, and a silent ceremony (00:33:41)

11. The Survivor Tree's rescue and rehabilitation (00:35:02)

12. Why these survivor trees are inspiring (00:38:41)

13. Doug and Bram visit the First 9/11 Survivor Trees near City Hall (00:44:46)

14. Episode wrap-up (00:48:46)