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Tulip trees were the second most frequently planted tree in the U.S. Capitol Grounds landscape by Frederick Law Olmsted, after London plane trees, with 78 individual trees. Most of these were used in his formal approach to the East Front of the U.S. Capitol. Their long straight trunks and fast growth created a dramatic architectural element in framing the view of the building.
There are three original tulip trees still living on the U.S. Capitol campus today, with the largest located in Capitol Square along Northeast Drive across from the Russell Senate Office Building.
About the Olmsted Originals
Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's 1874 General Plan for the U.S. Capitol Grounds sought to create a setting to accentuate the monumentality of the Capitol Building. Approximately 45 of Olmsted's trees remain today, having endured more than a century of urban life on the front stage of American democracy.
Each tree has its own unique features and preservation challenges, and the Architect of the Capitol's arborists employ industry best management practices to ensure these trees are given the very best care to remain safely in the landscape for current and future generations to enjoy.