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Shawshank tree
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The tree was a major tourist attraction for fans of the film, although located on private property at Malabar Farm.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> It formed part of "The Shawshank Trail" which features many of the film's iconic locations and attracts up to 35,000 visitors annually.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> The farm where the tree was located is sometimes used as a venue for weddings.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>On July 29, 2011, half of the tree fell due to trunk rot from ants after being hit by lightning.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> News of the event was widely shared,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> appearing in news outlets in the United Kingdom and India.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> The tree's fate was uncertain at the time, and officials were pessimistic about its chances of survival,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> but it was found to be alive.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> The tree was further damaged in July 2016 due to strong winds.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> The event caused a major increase in Internet traffic to the Mansfield and Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau website and general interest in the Shawshank Trail.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> The remaining portions of the tree were cut down on April 9, 2017, by the property's owner.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> The remains of the tree were turned into <i>The Shawshank Redemption</i> merchandise including rock hammers and magnets that were first sold during the 2017 Shawshank Hustle, an annual 7k featuring filming sites along the race route.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="role-in-film">Role in film</h2> <p>Though the film is set in Maine, much of the filming took place in <a href="/facts/Mansfield,_Ohio/CrAN7QLN">Mansfield, Ohio</a>, and nearby locations. The oak appears near the end of <i>The Shawshank Redemption</i> when Red (played by <a href="/facts/Morgan_Freeman/3lRKa6Nj">Morgan Freeman</a>) follows clues left by Andy Dufresne (played by <a href="/facts/Tim_Robbins/Ef26Pm6c">Tim Robbins</a>) to its location. Red finds a box buried at the base of a stone wall in the shade of the oak.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> The box contains a letter from Andy and cash to buy a bus ticket to join him in Mexico.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> In the film, Andy describes the tree as "like something out of a <a href="/facts/Robert_Frost/r4BrNLBN">Robert Frost</a> poem".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> </p><p>The oak has been described as among the most iconic trees in film history.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Williams, Nathan (July 23, 2016). "Shawshank Redemption oak tree falls and fans grieve". BBC. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36878985" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36878985</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Jones, Sheena (July 23, 2016). "Famous 'Shawshank' oak falls". CNN. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/entertainment/oak-tree-from-shawshank-redemption-falls/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/entertainment/oak-tree-from-shawshank-redemption-falls/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Whitmire, Lou (July 22, 2016). "'Shawshank' tree falls over". Mansfield News Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/07/22/shawshank-redemption-tree-falls/87446740/" target="_blank">http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/07/22/shawshank-redemption-tree-falls/87446740/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Simakis, Andrea (August 20, 2011). "'Shawshank Redemption' fan makes a pilgrimage to Mansfield and film's iconic tree". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Schulz, Bill (August 7, 2014). "Visiting 'Shawshank' Sites, 20 Years Later". New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/travel/visiting-shawshank-sites-20-years-later.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/travel/visiting-shawshank-sites-20-years-later.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Turner, Cory (August 4, 2011). "On Location: Mansfield, Ohio's 'Shawshank' Industry". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="https://www.npr.org/2011/08/04/138986482/on-location-mansfield-ohios-shawshank-industry" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/2011/08/04/138986482/on-location-mansfield-ohios-shawshank-industry</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Glaser, Susan (July 22, 2016). "Famous 'Shawshank Redemption' tree near Mansfield knocked over by wind (video)". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 25, 2016. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/07/famous_shawshank_redemption_tr.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/07/famous_shawshank_redemption_tr.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Turner, Cory (August 4, 2011). "On Location: Mansfield, Ohio's 'Shawshank' Industry". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="https://www.npr.org/2011/08/04/138986482/on-location-mansfield-ohios-shawshank-industry" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/2011/08/04/138986482/on-location-mansfield-ohios-shawshank-industry</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Whitmire, Lou (July 22, 2016). "'Shawshank' tree falls over". Mansfield News Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/07/22/shawshank-redemption-tree-falls/87446740/" target="_blank">http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/07/22/shawshank-redemption-tree-falls/87446740/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Simakis, Andrea (August 20, 2011). "'Shawshank Redemption' fan makes a pilgrimage to Mansfield and film's iconic tree". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Whitmire, Lou (July 22, 2016). "'Shawshank' tree falls over". Mansfield News Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/07/22/shawshank-redemption-tree-falls/87446740/" target="_blank">http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/07/22/shawshank-redemption-tree-falls/87446740/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Glaser, Susan (July 22, 2016). "Famous 'Shawshank Redemption' tree near Mansfield knocked over by wind (video)". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 25, 2016. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/07/famous_shawshank_redemption_tr.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/07/famous_shawshank_redemption_tr.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Jones, Sheena (July 23, 2016). "Famous 'Shawshank' oak falls". CNN. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/entertainment/oak-tree-from-shawshank-redemption-falls/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/entertainment/oak-tree-from-shawshank-redemption-falls/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Whitmire, Lou (July 22, 2016). "'Shawshank' tree falls over". Mansfield News Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/07/22/shawshank-redemption-tree-falls/87446740/" target="_blank">http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/07/22/shawshank-redemption-tree-falls/87446740/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Bateman, David (May 19, 2016). "Shawshank Trail highlights". Toronto Star Newspaper. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="https://www.thestar.com/life/travel/2016/05/19/shawshank-trail-highlights.html" target="_blank">https://www.thestar.com/life/travel/2016/05/19/shawshank-trail-highlights.html</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Child, Ben (August 3, 2011). "Shawshank Redemption tree split in half by storm". The Guardian. Retrieved July 25, 2016. But Bill Mullen, curator of a museum in Upper Sandusky devoted to all things "Shawshank," says black ants had eaten their way through the center of the tree, hollowing it out. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/aug/03/shawshank-redemption-tree-split-storm" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/aug/03/shawshank-redemption-tree-split-storm</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Williams, Nathan (July 23, 2016). "Shawshank Redemption oak tree falls and fans grieve". BBC. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36878985" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36878985</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Simakis, Andrea (August 20, 2011). "'Shawshank Redemption' fan makes a pilgrimage to Mansfield and film's iconic tree". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 25, 2016. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>TMZ Staff (August 2, 2011). "'Shawshank Redemption' Tree SO YOU'RE SAYIN' THERE'S A CHANCE!?". TMZ. Retrieved July 25, 2016. <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2011/08/02/shawshank-redemption-tree-so-youre-saying-theres-a-chance-might-live-stay-up/" target="_blank">http://www.tmz.com/2011/08/02/shawshank-redemption-tree-so-youre-saying-theres-a-chance-might-live-stay-up/</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Destries, Michael (July 30, 2012). "Good News: The Shawshank Oak Tree is Alive and Well". Ecorazzi. Retrieved July 25, 2016. <a href="http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/07/30/good-news-the-shawshank-oak-tree-is-alive-and-well/" target="_blank">http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/07/30/good-news-the-shawshank-oak-tree-is-alive-and-well/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Williams, Nathan (July 23, 2016). "Shawshank Redemption oak tree falls and fans grieve". BBC. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36878985" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36878985</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Jones, Sheena (July 23, 2016). "Famous 'Shawshank' oak falls". CNN. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/entertainment/oak-tree-from-shawshank-redemption-falls/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/entertainment/oak-tree-from-shawshank-redemption-falls/</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Simakis, Andrea (August 20, 2011). "'Shawshank Redemption' fan makes a pilgrimage to Mansfield and film's iconic tree". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 25, 2016. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>"The 200-Year-Old Tree in Shawshank Redemption Just Got Chopped Down". April 9, 2017. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170410204435/http://time.com/4733197/shawshank-redemption-tree-cut-down/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20170410204435/http://time.com/4733197/shawshank-redemption-tree-cut-down/</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>"Shawshank Hustle". Shawshank Trail. Retrieved March 30, 2020. <a href="https://shawshanktrail.com/events/shawshank-hustle/" target="_blank">https://shawshanktrail.com/events/shawshank-hustle/</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Simakis, Andrea (August 20, 2011). "'Shawshank Redemption' fan makes a pilgrimage to Mansfield and film's iconic tree". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:27"><p>Jones, Sheena (July 23, 2016). "Famous 'Shawshank' oak falls". CNN. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/entertainment/oak-tree-from-shawshank-redemption-falls/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/entertainment/oak-tree-from-shawshank-redemption-falls/</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:28"><p>Simakis, Andrea (August 20, 2011). "'Shawshank Redemption' fan makes a pilgrimage to Mansfield and film's iconic tree". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 25, 2016. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/08/shawshank_redemption_fan_makes.html</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:29"><p>Williams, Nathan (July 23, 2016). "Shawshank Redemption oak tree falls and fans grieve". BBC. Retrieved July 24, 2016. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36878985" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36878985</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>