KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the next few days, Kansas City will say farewell to one of its oldest living residents – a historic landmark that has sat in the metro for the past 250 years.
The Frank Liberty Tree, one of the last Liberty trees in Missouri, has served as a gathering place for the community since the mid-1700s.
It sits behind a brick home in the historic northeast, where its mature branches have grown for two centuries, providing shade and a hidden piece of Kansas City history to all who pass by.
However, as the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.”
Despite living through the city’s founding, Missouri’s statehood, multiple wars, numerous generations of owners and modern-day developments, the tree has fallen victim to an advanced root fungus, making it unhealthy and unsafe.
As a result, the rare tree is set to be removed this weekend, but it isn’t going without a proper farewell.
From 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, members of the community are hosting the “Frank the Liberty Tree: A Champagne Farewell to 250 Years.” The event aims to bring together members of the community and reflect on the historic monument that has sat in the metro for 250 years.
Here are some event details:
- VIP Porch Reception – 2:30 p.m.: A private champagne gathering with music, conversation, and reflection on 250 years of local history.
- Public Memorial Ceremony – 3 p.m.: A heartfelt farewell featuring readings, storytelling, and a final toast beneath Frank’s branches.
For ticket, reservation and location information, click here. According to the event’s organizer, the champagne is complimentary.
The Frank Liberty Tree was certified by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Missouri as one of the state’s most cherished Liberty Trees in 1976.
Now, after two centuries, the bur oak will no longer stand in the Heartland. But it will always be cherished as a critical piece of local and state history.