This historic Bur Oak near Turtle Creek has stood for centuries, a quiet witness to the lives of the Ho-Chunk people, the arrival of early settlers, and the growth of modern Beloit.
If you see a crazy lady measuring trees in Beloit, that might be me! Recently, as part of the Beloit Heritage Trees program I just launched, I measured this remarkable Bur Oak, the largest tree documented in Beloit to date. Located in Dr. George W. Hilliard Park, the tree measured an astonishing 204-inch circumference in May 2026. Using the standard tree growth-factor method, it is estimated to be approximately 422 years old. That age places this tree well within the era when the Ho-Chunk people lived and thrived in this region prior to 1832.
I am measuring the circumference of the tree to help estimate its age.
The oak stands just 750 feet from Turtle Creek which was the home of Turtle Village (Ke-Chunk), where nearly 700 Ho-Chunk people gathered during the summer months where in the rich bottomland soils along the creek, they cultivated corn, squash, and beans. The tree is also located near the fields early settlers described as the Ho-Chunk corn-growing grounds, close to what is now Beloit College athletic fields.
Early settlers frequently wrote about the “bur oak openings” they encountered upon arriving in this area. Today, we refer to this landscape as an oak savanna — an open, park-like environment of scattered mature oaks and grasses. For generations, the Ho-Chunk intentionally used controlled fire to shape and maintain these savannas. Regular burns reduced brush and undergrowth, improving travel, hunting, and the health of the ecosystem itself.
The Bur Oak was especially suited to this environment. Its thick, corky bark makes it highly resistant to low-intensity prairie fires, allowing it to survive and flourish where other trees could not. As a result, Bur Oaks became one of the defining trees of the Midwestern oak savanna landscape.
Bur Oaks also provided an important food source. They produce the largest and sweetest acorns of any North American oak species. Native Americans boiled and leached the acorns to remove tannins before roasting them or grinding them into flour, sometimes mixing them with berries, maple sugar, or meat. The bark of the Bur Oak was also used medicinally.
The tree’s acorns attracted deer, turkey, squirrels, and countless other wildlife species, creating valuable hunting opportunities. In the open savanna landscape — where frequent burns kept the understory clear — both wildlife movement and hunting would have been far easier than in dense forest.
Even today, Bur Oaks remain among the most ecologically valuable trees in North America. They support more than 500 species of butterflies and moths while providing critical food and habitat for birds, mammals, and other wildlife. Their immense size, longevity, and ecological importance make heritage Bur Oaks like this one not only living witnesses to Beloit’s past, but also essential contributors to the health of its future landscape.
Would you like to see this community treasure? Visit this historic Bur Oak tree and more beautiful trees in the peaceful Dr. George W. Hilliard Park, 1443 Athletic Ave. And because we are always interested in sharing Beloit’s history, click here to read about the remarkable man that this park was named for, Dr. George W. Hilliard.
Beloit Heritage Trees Program Launched
As part of celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2026, Beloit Heritage Days is launching the Beloit Heritage Trees program. Community members will have the opportunity to locate and identify significant trees on public property and on their own property in the Beloit regional area.
Heritage Trees are silent witnesses to the history of the land and the changes that have happened over the years. Beloit’s Heritage Tree program gives us a meaningful way to recognize the living landmarks that connect our community to its past.
- Learn more about the Beloit Heritage Trees Program
- View the Beloit Heritage Days online map.
Beloit Heritage Days is Celebrating 50 years with Open Doors Beloit – Sept 11-13, 2026
Open Doors Beloit invites residents and visitors to explore the Stateline’s most iconic landmarks, historic sites, and hidden gems through a weekend full of events that celebrates the rich tapestry of our community’s past and vibrant culture of today.
Participants will enjoy free access to architectural treasures, cultural institutions, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours as community organizations, churches, businesses, schools, and cultural institutions “Open Their Doors” and welcome you in!
The Beloit Heritage Days Passport will guide you on your history-hunting trek throughout Beloit as you explore 17 free events & historic sites over the three day celebration. Visit 4 events and get your passport stamped, then turn it in for a FREE Turtle Sundae complements of Culver’s Of Beloit.
Questions? Send an email to Beloit Heritage Days Coordinator Therese Oldenburg at info@beloitheritagedays.com