A Tall Tale of Timber and Tradition
Michigan’s eastern white pine isn’t just a towering beauty—it’s a symbol of the state’s rich history. Officially designated as the state tree on March 4, 1955, this giant of the forest played a central role in Michigan’s logging boom, which made the state the national leader in lumber production during the late 19th century.
The Eastern White Pine
The eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) can reach heights of 150 feet and grow up to 40 inches in diameter. In Michigan’s early days, these massive trees covered vast stretches of land, particularly in the sandy soils of the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. But by the mid-1800s, New England’s forests had been largely cleared, and loggers turned their sights to Michigan’s abundant white pines. From 1870 to 1900, Michigan’s logging industry thrived, bringing an estimated $4 billion to the state’s economy.
The economic importance of these trees was so great that they even played a role in political negotiations. The 1837 “White Pine Treaty” saw Ojibwe leaders cede significant land to the U.S. government while retaining their rights to hunt, fish, and gather on the land—an agreement shaped in part by the growing demand for Michigan’s towering timber.
When Michigan lawmakers officially declared the white pine the state tree in 1955, they marked the occasion with Arbor Day ceremonies, planting saplings on the Capitol lawn. Today, while Michigan’s old-growth white pines are scarce due to the logging boom, reforestation efforts have helped restore this majestic tree to the state’s landscape. If you take a walk through Michigan’s forests, you’ll still find white pines standing tall—a lasting reminder of the tree that helped shape the state’s history.
