U of I Preserves Historic Presidential Grove Trees Damaged in December Windstorm

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The University of Idaho is working to preserve its Presidential Grove after a windstorm on December 16, 2025, damaged three historic trees, including two presidential trees - the Theodore Roosevelt Tree and the William Howard Taft Tree. The damaged portions of the trees have been carefully preserved and stored on campus, and the university plans to create replicas of the trees through a long-standing tradition by the College of Natural Resources to ensure the grove lives on for future generations.

Why it matters

The Presidential Grove at the University of Idaho is a historic landmark that honors past U.S. presidents. Preserving these iconic trees is important for maintaining the university's connection to its history and honoring the legacy of the presidents they represent.

The details

The damaged trees include the Theodore Roosevelt Tree, a Colorado Blue Spruce planted in 1911, and the William Howard Taft Tree, a Port Orford Cedar planted in 1911. Both presidential trees still stand but are significantly damaged. Portions of the Roosevelt and Taft trees were carefully preserved and stored on campus during cleanup efforts and will be repurposed by student groups for future projects. Remaining portions of the trees will stay on site temporarily so horticulture experts can collect shoots and buds called scions, which will be used to create replicas through a long-standing tradition by the College of Natural Resources.

• The windstorm that damaged the trees occurred on December 16, 2025.
• The Theodore Roosevelt Tree was planted on April 10, 1911.
• The William Howard Taft Tree was planted on October 4, 1911.

What’s next

The university plans to continue site preparation and replanting work over the next couple of years to restore the Presidential Grove.