FRIENDSHIP OAK TREE, THE
The University of Southern Mississippi – Gulf Coast Campus
730 East Beach Blvd
Long Beach, MS 39560
Phone: (228) 865-4500
https://www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/friendship-oak
“I am called the Friendship Oak. Those who enter my shadow will remain friends through all their lifetime.”
Standing on the along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico is a symbol of strength and resilience. It is called the FRIENDSHIP OAK and is more then 500 years old. The massive tree is said to date back to at least 1487. The tree finds its home on the campus of Southern Mississippi University in Long Beach. The tree has survived several hurricanes in recent years, including Hurricane Katrina. Her website says the following:
If asked about her length of stay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, she might reply, “I was a sapling when Christopher Columbus sailed the Caribbean and I had begun to bear acorns when Ponce de Leon reached Florida in his quest for the Fountain of Youth. In 1587, the year Virginia Dare, the first Anglo-American child born at Roanoke Island, appeared, I had turned a hundred years old…”
While caravanning with our good friends to Florida, we stopped to view this magnificent sight. The sign of friendship placed in front of the tree made us stop to reflect over our friendship. Our stop seemed to be on an school holiday, so our access to parking right in front of the tree was very easy that day. However, on busier days, one could pull off into any of the beach parking lots or spots around the route and make a short walk to the campus.
Things to Know:
- Free
- Fairly easy parking for cars and RV’s depending on the day
- Directly across from the beautiful Mississippi Beach front
- Climbing in not allowed on the tree
- Bring a friend to cement your life long friendship in the shadow of the tree.