One of nine Indian Marker Trees recognized by the Comanche Nation in the state of Texas is here in Archer County. These trees were tied to the ground as samplings to grow horizontally and then retrained to grow vertically after a period of time. Indian Marker Trees were used to signify water, burial grounds, trails, and more. This tree in Holliday, at Stonewall Jackson Camp #249, marked a water source.
Steve Houser, arborist and founder of the Texas Historic Tree Coalition, had authenticated the tree before the Comanche Nation confirmed it as a Comanche Marker Tree in 2017. Houser estimated the tree to be 250-300 years old.
“Out of 24 years and 600 trees, we have nine trees that have been officially recognized, of which this is one.”
