Community members bid farewell to beloved 250-year-old oak tree

Community members bid farewell to beloved 250-year-old oak tree

Sean McDowell

Mon, January 12, 2026 at 11:41 PM UTC

1 min read

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A tree with deep community roots is coming down.

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Neighbors in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast neighborhood are watching as “Frank the Liberty Tree” is being taken down limb-by-limb. The old tree, which sits at Monroe Street & Lexington Avenue, is said to be 250-years-old, making it sightly older than the United States itself.

Frank’s final days are attracting a lot of attention. A crew hired by Evergy began taking down the 80-foot oak tree this morning, starting with the tree’s higher limbs. The big oak is designated as a “liberty tree,” since soldiers are said to have met secretly near related trees during the Revolutionary War.

Last summer, arborists with the Missouri Department of Conservation determined the tree suffers from a root fungal infection and should be taken down.

“It’s a bit sad, definitely,” Crystal Beasley, a neighbor who’s become a de facto spokesperson for the tree, said on Monday.

Back in December neighbors and friends gathered to toast to Frank and celebrate the legacy of the oak tree.

Beasley’s social media pages are drawing viewers from coast-to-coast, following the tree’s historic significance, and to see how such a tall tree is disposed of.

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“Once he’s gone, I’m going to feel the impact of it because we’ll have more light and more sunshine, but his presence will be missed,” Beasley commented on Monday.

Beasley said property owners intend to let the ground heal for awhile, but there are plans to plant a new magnolia tree in Frank’s spot in the near future.

Crews will continue their efforts in taking the tree apart on Tuesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.

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