National Preservation Month: Celebrating Arlington's Historic Trees

Published on May 08, 2026

By Cheryl Donaldson, Landmark Preservation Commissioner

Did you know that May is Historic Preservation Month? Throughout the month of May, the Landmark Preservation Commission is featuring historic sites and structures to highlight Arlington’s unique history, including its trees. 

Most of us have heard of “Cross Timbers,” which is a term that describes an area that spans from southern Kansas, through the center of Oklahoma, all the way here to central Texas. What most people do not know is that this vast region is called “Cross Timbers” because it encompassed an expansive forest of Post Oaks, which were also known as Cross Oaks.

The expanse of these trees was so vast and dense that they were very nearly impenetrable and came to be known as the “cast iron forest” due to the hardiness of the foliage. As communities, railway, and highway systems expanded across the prairies, most of these wonderful trees were lost due to these expansions as well as incidents of blight.

Today, these trees can still be found throughout Arlington and our beautiful city has grown, and continues to grow, it is important to continue to preserve our historic structures, but equally important for all of us to try to preserve and save as many of these precious historic trees as possible. In October 2019, the Texas Historic Tree Coalition designated a 200-year-old oak tree in Arlington as a recognized historic tree. The Old Caddo Oak is located in the Sheri Capehart Southwest Nature Preserve.

Visit Arlington150.com for more historical articles, photos and events planned throughout 2026.