Great Lakes Trail Marker Tree Society
Founder and President: Dennis Downes

Trail Marker Trees were an ancient form of land and water navigational aids, as well as a marking system to denote areas of significant importance such as ceremonial sites. These trees were used by many, if not all, of the Native American tribes and later by fur traders and early pioneers. The Trail Marker Trees differed in their appearance and formation from tribe to tribe and from region to region. Examples of these trees have been found all across the United States and throughout Canada. Researcher Dennis Downes was first introduced to the Trail Marker Trees as a young boy and was influenced by his own Native American relative. Mr. Downes has spent nearly thirty years of his adult life in the field locating, documenting, and educating others about these historical icons.

Q 1) What are Trail Marker Trees?
A: Trail Marker Trees are trees that were shaped into a specific form by man to be easily recognized and then used to aid in land and/or water navigation as well as to mark significant Native American sites. These trees would help guide Native Americans along the safest route in their journeys and would direct them in finding a variety of natural resources necessary for their way of life.

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Q 2) What species of trees were most commonly used?
A:: The Trail Trees are most commonly formed from trees in the hardwood family (i.e. Oak, Maple, and Elm) because of their flexibility while young and their longevity after being formed. However, other species of trees have been used; even trees from the conifer family have been used in certain regions of the country. The Native Americans would use whichever species of tree would best suit their purpose and needs.

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Q 3) Were all the Trail Trees shaped the same?
A: No. Different trees served different purposes and thus could have varying shapes; some were used for navigational aids and some were used for marking significant sites. Different tribes would have had similar, but slightly different ways of shaping the trees in their own region to fit their own specific needs. Nevertheless, all Native Americans would use techniques that would make it clear the trees were shaped by man, not to be confused with Mother Nature deforming a tree or natural anomalies.

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Q 4) How can one be sure that these trees have not just been deformed by nature?
A:: All Trail Marker Trees have specific characteristics created by man's intervention. One example would be the existence of the distinctive knob seen on Directional Trail Marker Trees; this is the remnant of the original trunk that was removed after the shaping of the tree. Another example would be the appearance of numerous similarly shaped trees, all of the same age and species, found in a line along a known Native American Trail. There were documented examples of lines of the same species Trail Marker Trees that once existed in the Northeastern Illinois region (Red Oak, White Elm).

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Q 5) Who would have been the first to use Trail Trees?
A: To pinpoint one group over another as being the "first" would only be speculation. This system goes back as far as archaic times and would have been modified over the ages to suit the needs of different groups of people. There are many verified examples of several different Native American tribes using the Trail Trees from the past up until modern times.

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Q 6) What would the approximate size of a living Trail Marker Tree be today?
A: Based on the researcher's cumulative knowledge, documentation, and photographic comparisons he has found that Trail Trees will have a minimum diameter in the range of 30" at approximately 3' off the ground, on average. This measurement is derived from the scientific knowledge that oak trees will, on average, gain one inch in diameter for every 6.8 years they live. However, it must be acknowledged that the growth of the Trail Trees is often stunted dramatically by the shaping process as well as often growing in poor soil conditions. Due to these factors it is possible that a Trail Marker Tree could have a smaller diameter than the scientific table prediction. In exception, the researcher has met with Native Americans that have verified Trail Marker Trees being shaped by their own people as late as the early 1900's. These trees would obviously have a smaller diameter.

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Q 7) What are some of the largest documented Trail Marker Trees still living today?
A: What are some of the largest documented Trail Marker Trees still living today? A: Mr. Downes has documented several Trail Trees in the Great Lakes Region with diameters reaching and exceeding 50". Some of the largest living examples are located in Indiana, Ontario, Georgia, Missouri, and Illinois.

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Q 8) Are the Trail Marker Trees referred to by other names?
A: : Yes. Trail Trees in modern times (from the 1960's and forward)have been referred to by many names; however, in earlier times text books, map keys, archeological papers, and Native Americans that were interviewed referred to these trees as Trail Trees and Trail Marker Trees. No matter what the trees are referred to as, they are still Trail Marker Trees as they marked trails and points of significance.

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Q 9) What stand have archeologists taken on the Trail Marker Trees?
A: In the late 1800's and early 1900's there was a great deal of research conducted by archeologists, arborists, botanists, historical societies, and garden clubs on the Trail Marker Trees and Indian Trails that still were visible in their day. Unfortunately, for modern archeologists and other researchers many of these Trail Trees have since disappeared making it harder to find true examples and connect the trees together. Instead, archeologists are being exposed to a prevalence of poor examples that are often not even Trail Marker Trees, presented by groups that have little or no actual field research and rely only on internet information as their sole source of knowledge. These poor examples are leaving some current archeologists and anthropologists skeptical and doubtful of the Trail Tree System as a whole.

However, many other professionals have researched and confirmed the existence of the Trail Marker Tree System, including Helen Hornbeck Tanner, the country's foremost researcher and disseminator of Native American history of the Great Lakes Region. The researcher had the opportunity to meet and conduct many interviews with Mrs. Tanner. Other past professionals that have documented and confirmed the Trail Marker Trees include Dr. Raymond Janssen (paleobotanist), Richard F. Gloede (landscape architect), and Jens Jensen (landscape architect and forester). Today, Mr. Downes continues to work with Hilda Williams (Little Fawn, daughter of Chief Thundercloud), Dan Melone (Cook County archeologist), Verlyn "Buzz" Spreeman (member of the Menominee Nation), Nancy Canova (Vice Regent and Illinois District IV of the Daughters of the American Revolution) and many additional representatives of the D.A.R., Earl Otchingwanigan (Professor Emeritus, Ojibwe), Steve Swanson (Director of the Grove Redfield Estate), and Eli Suzukovich III PhD (Cree/Chippewa descendant and anthropologist) to document and confirm the Trail Marker Trees

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Q 10) Should these trees be protected?
A: Yes. Based on Mr. Downes' extensive field research he has been able to compare the condition of the trees from decade to decade, being able to observe the effects of too many people visiting these trees. While thousands of people may visit the trees and treat them with respect and reverence, it only takes a few people to visit and to do irreparable damage to the trees by removing bark, carving into the tree, or other harmful acts. After seeing the damage that has been done to these trees, Mr. Downes has taken the stance to protect these Native American icons as endangered species as opposed to exploiting them.

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Q 11) Is Mr. Downes associated with any of the more recently formed Trail Marker Tree interest groups?
A: Mr. Downes works with a number of groups around the country by helping educate them about the Trail Marker Trees and guiding their research. He is working with a number of Native Americans from different tribes, the Dallas Historical Tree Coalition, A New Twist in Time project (Wisconsin), Historical Societies in many states, Conserve Lake County, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Boy Scouts, the American Indian Center of Chicago, and many other groups and societies around the United States and Canada to further educate about, commemorate, and protect the Trail Marker Trees.

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Q 12) Has there ever been a documentary made based on your research?
A:Yes, in fact, there have been several.
~ Mr. Downes' study was chosen, based on his decades of research, to be made into a documentary by the Northbrook Art's Commission in 2004, the half hour documentary aired on local cable channels.
~In 2006, Mr. Downes was the recipient of a small grant from the Illinois Public Library System, which was used to place a bronze Trail Marker Tree sculpture in the entrance to the Antioch, Illinois Public Library. In conjunction with this, a short documentary was filmed and aired throughout the State of Illinois on the educational channels.
~In 2008, the News Sun filmed a short documentary.
~In 2009, a documentary filmed by the Northbrook Arts Commission was released. This documentary was filmed at the Northbrook Historical Museum, where Mr. Downes had his Trail Marker Tree Exhibit on display for 4 months, the documentary shows parts of the exhibit as well as Mr. Downes' bronze sculpture.
~As of 2011, Mr. Downes' book, Native American Trail Marker Trees: Marking Paths Through the Wilderness, has also been released. It is the most detailed and extensive publication to have been completed about the Trail Marker Trees.
~Since the release of his book, Mr. Downes has been involved with numerous documentaries and personal interviews regarding his research. He has been interviewed by Janet Davies (ABC), Richard King (WGN), Gary Donatelli, Geoffrey Baer (WTTW), JoBe Cerny, and others. He has also been honored to receive four separate proclamations for his efforts in preserving this piece of Native American History for generations to come.