Common Name: Ohio buckeye
Scientific Name: Aesculus glabra
Category: Historic tree
Comments: One of Richmond's early 19th century city fathers, Dr. John C. Brockenbrough, planted four Ohio Buckeyes on his Shockoe Hill property that commanded the view of the Shockoe Valley and of Richmond's Church Hill. Dr. John C. Brockenbrough was a wealthy physician and the president of the Bank of Virginia. The four Buckeyes were planted along the south portico of the main house. The Brockenbrough property was later sold to the City and used as the executive mansion for President Jefferson Davis and his family during the Civil War. Owing to its use as the Confederate executive mansion, the property became known as the White House of the Confederacy. After the Civil War, the property was used as the headquarters for Reconstruction in Virginia, and the Federal Army occupied the White House. Several of the buckeyes appear in postwar photographs. After Virginia was readmited to the Union, the property became Richmond's Central School, and was used as such until 1894. It was acquired by
Best time to photograph: Spring or summer, daytime
Nominator: Dean Knight
This tree is not on public or publicly accessible property. The owner's name, address, and the exact location of the tree are not displayed to protect the privacy of these individuals. If you are the owner and wish to make this information public, please let us know.
County/City: Richmond City