The Sallier Oak
The historic Sallier Oak tree is located behind the Imperial Calcasieu Museum (204 W. Sallier St.) and has been a local landmark for much of the history of Calcasieu Parish. The tree has been the scene of weddings and family portraits of local residents for many years and is an important landmark for our city.
The oak belongs to the family Quercus Virginiana, commonly known as the Louisiana Live Oak. The tree is one of the oldest and largest in the state and is approximated to be 350 to 400 years old. The oak’s limbs stretch far to rest upon the ground and are covered with a top coat of Resurrection Fern. This plant uses the oak as a host and springs to life after even a small rain. The fern does not damage the tree.
The Sallier Oak was once a charter oak on the property of Charles Anselm Sallier, the namesake founder of the city. It was located near the second Acadian style home the Salliers built to escape the cold air coming off the lake in winter. After the Hurricane of 1918, the tree began to split down the middle and was chained back together with heavy iron chains. These have now grown into the tree and can still be seen hanging out of the bark of the tree. The north side of the tree was damaged by lightning in the 1930’s and caught fire. Many of the branches on the north side were lost which gave the oak the leaning appearance it has today.
If you would like to photograph the Sallier Oak, or to arrange to have your wedding or portraits at the Oak, please CONTACT US.
