The King of Prussia Historical Society recently received a collection of local historical items of interest from the Peterson family. It included a piece of the Washington Drinker Oak along with an Authentication by Upper Merion Park & Historic Foundation.
See the Winter 2015 issue of the King of Prussia Gazette for the complete pictorial essay about this historic tree. Download the issue from our website.
Pen and ink drawing of the Drinker Oak. A copy was given with each purchase of a piece of the oak tree. The wood was cut and sold by Upper Merion Park and Historic Foundation. Drawing by Barbara Roback. This piece is a donation from the Peterson family.
This Victor Dallin image of King of Prussia looks northeast, over what would become the Court and Plaza at King of Prussia, in the land at the top of the picture. Swedesford Road (US 202) travels left to right, Gulph Road crosses it from upper left to lower right, and King of Prussia Road is seen intersecting it at the King of Prussia Inn. The property of A.H. Crockett, which would have been behind present day Chili’s restaurant, is above the arrow pointing to the Drinker-Washington Oak just to the right of center. (Image courtesy of the Hagley Museum and Library.)
Undated photo of the Drinker Oak with the Crockett house in the background, courtesy of the King of Prussia Historical Society.
