A tree believed to have been planted by George Washington in Virginia was felled by the powerful nor’easter that slammed the East Coast last week.
“Today at Mount Vernon, strong winds brought down a 227-year-old Canadian Hemlock, as well as a Virginia Cedar that stood watch over Washington’s tomb for many years,” the historical landmark said on Facebook.
The old hemlock arrived at the first president’s home and plantation in 1791 in half a whiskey barrel, as a gift from New York Gov. George Clinton, the estate said.
Washington had planted the tree outside the upper garden gate.
“The DC area lost a lot of trees yesterday, but none more significant than this 1791 Canadian Hemlock @MountVernon,” tweeted Rob Shenk, senior vice president of visitor engagement for the landmark.
The organization said it would be exploring options for how to use the wood. In the past, they’ve turned fallen trees into everything from handmade gavels to bottle stoppers.
The massive Friday storm hammered the Northeast with winds up to 70 mph, and knocked out power to 200,000 customers in New York and New Jersey.
At least three people died after gusts brought trees crashing down on their homes or cars.
File photo of the main building at Mount Vernon 
Friday's major winter storm over the northeastern United States claimed a 227-year-old tree on the estate of the first US President , , in .  As of yesterday, officials overseeing the Mount Vernon estate indicated the  has been collected for preservation and special projects.

The hemlock, planted in 1791, was toppled by the gusts reportedly up to 70  (about 110 ) on Friday.

Mount Vernon was Washington's personal estate, where he conducted most of his two presidential terms between 1789–1797 because the initial White House was not completed yet. According to Mount Vernon officials, the hemlock is the best documented tree at the estate, sent by New York Governor  as a gift delivered in a whisky barrel. The New York governor is not related to the 42nd President , however George Clinton would later become the United States's Vice President under the  and  administrations between 1805–1812. 

Other US historic trees recently fallen include the seventh President 's  at the White House and the   in California's  known for the car-sized tunnel cut into the trunk.


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