Oklahoma City Survivor Tree seedling planted at OU-Tulsa

A living piece of Oklahoma history is taking root at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

The OU-Tulsa campus held a short ceremony Thursday to plant a seedling from the Survivor Tree, the iconic 90-year-old American elm that withstood the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The tree, which still stands at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, has become a symbol of resilience and remembrance.

“It’s a great reminder of what was lost and what we still have today,” said Susan Bynum, vice president of OU-Tulsa. “I think it is just an excellent commemoration of what can still stand in the face of adversity.”

Seedlings grown from seeds collected from the original Survivor Tree are being planted this year at all three University of Oklahoma campuses as part of the 30th anniversary observance.