Welcome to the site of the oldest tree in Leander, Texas, a living testament to the passage of time and the history of the region. This tree, affectionately known as Ha-shu-ka-na, stands as a silent witness to centuries of change, estimated to be around 300 years old.
In the early days, the land that is now Leander was home to several Native American tribes, including the Tonkawa and Lipan Apache. These tribes lived off the land, and it is likely that they, too, stopped by this very tree for shade and shelter.
The area was later claimed by Spanish and then Mexican authorities before Anglo settlers began arriving in the 1840s. These settlers, seeking new opportunities, constructed Tumlinson Fort for protection against raids, marking the beginnings of what would become modern Leander.
Originally, the settlement in this area was known as Bagdad, named by settlers after their hometown in Tennessee. However, in 1881, the Austin and Northwest Railroad built a line that bypassed Bagdad by a mile, leading to the establishment of a new town along the tracks, called Leander. This new town was named after Leander Brown, an official with the railroad company.
Over the years, the town of Leander grew and expanded, but the tree remained a constant, witnessing the evolution from a small settlement to a bustling community. As Leander developed, the tree served as a natural landmark, a link to the region’s rich past.
Today, Ha-shu-ka-na is one of Leander’s ten oldest trees and remains a cherished part of the community’s heritage. It stands as a reminder of the area’s history, from its Native American roots through to its days as a frontier settlement and into its modern incarnation.
