Eddyville Redwood: Oregon’s 77th Heritage Tree

The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is celebrating 30 years of preserving the state’s most significant botanical landmarks, with highlights including the Eddyville Redwood in Lincoln County.

The Eddyville Redwood, a Sequoia sempervirens, is recognized as Oregon’s 77th heritage tree. Located in the unincorporated community of Eddyville, the tree serves as a living link to the region’s early settlement and development.

Physical Characteristics and Designation

The redwood stands 130 feet tall with a crown spread of 40 feet and a circumference of 24 feet. It was officially dedicated as a heritage tree in 2022, at which time it was estimated to be approximately 140 years old.

The tree is situated at 6144 Crystal Creek Loop in Eddyville, Oregon, a location formerly identified as 19992 HWY 20.

Historical Origins

The tree was planted in the 1880s by Israel Fisk Eddy. The land on which the redwood grows was previously part of the Oregon Coast Reservation until President Andrew Johnson removed it from the reservation in 1865.

Israel Fisk Eddy played a central role in the establishment of the local community, which was known at the time as Little Elk. Eddy contributed to the growth of the settlement by establishing a post office, a grocery store, and a grist mill.

The Naming of Eddyville

The community’s transition from Little Elk to Eddyville was the result of negotiations involving the expansion of the railroad. A railroad project aimed to establish Yaquina Bay as the terminus of its transcontinental route, and the planned tracks crossed the land owned by Israel Fisk Eddy.

Eddy agreed to allow the railroad to cross his property on one condition: the railroad depot had to be renamed Eddyville.

This agreement solidified the name of the community, which remains an unincorporated area within Lincoln County.