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All the United States Indiana Constitution Elm
AO Edited

Constitution Elm

Indiana's first constitution was drafted in the shade of this elm tree in the summer of 1816.

Corydon, Indiana

Added By
Thomas Harper
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Trunk of the Constitution Elm   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
Trunk of the Constitution Elm   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
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History at the Corner of Elm and High Street   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When the summer heat became unbearable for the delegates writing Indiana's first state constitution, they would continue their work in the shade of a large elm tree.

Corydon, Indiana, was the capital of the new state upon inception from the Indiana Territory in 1816. Delegates from across the territory would converge to attend the constitutional convention held in a log cabin at the corner of Elm and High Street, starting on June 10.

In this log cabin, the summer heat would often become stifling, so to cool off and continue the convention's work, the delegates would retreat to the shade of a large elm tree further down High Street. This tree became memorialized as the Constitution Elm. The tree would continue to live until 1925, when the trunk would be preserved inside a sandstone brick structure.

A plaque was placed there in 1934, telling the story of the large elm tree witness to Indiana history.

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Added By

thomasharper

Published

July 10, 2024

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Indiana
  • https://www.indianamuseum.org/historic-sites/corydon-capitol/
  • https://www.indianamuseum.org/historic-sites/corydon-capitol/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Indiana
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana
Constitution Elm
200 W High St
Corydon, Indiana, 47112
United States
38.213484, -86.127336
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Corydon Capitol

Corydon, Indiana

miles away

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Louisville, Kentucky

miles away

The Witches' Tree

Louisville, Kentucky

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Indiana

Indiana

United States

Places 147
Stories 18

Nearby Places

Corydon Capitol

Corydon, Indiana

miles away

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Louisville, Kentucky

miles away

The Witches' Tree

Louisville, Kentucky

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Indiana

Indiana

United States

Places 147
Stories 18

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