Great Lakes Trail Marker Tree Society | Trail Marker Trees

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

INDIAN TRAIL MARKER TREE
Photo Gallery
All Photo's Property of Downes Studio
Trail Marker Tree® is the Registered Trademark of Downes Studio


Dennis with Hilda"Little Fawn" Williams visiting one of his Trail Marker Trees in Wisconsin.		Missouri Trail Marker Tree. This tree pointed to a large nearby cave and fresh water spring.

Large Double Trunk Trail Marker Tree in South Carolina, submitted by Tony Weaks.	Triple Trunk Trail Tree located in Colorado.	Northern Illinois Trail Marker Tree.

Indiana Trail Marker Tree.
	Mammoth Trail Marker Tree located in Indiana

One of four Trail Marker Trees located in this Wisconsin Park.	Central Michigan Trail Marker Tree, Huge White Oak.	Protected Trail Marker Tree located in Traverse City, Michigan.

Trail Marker Tree in North Central Illinois.	This famous Trail Marker Tree stood near the border of Lake Forest and Mettawa, Illinois, until the 1960’s.	This Trail Tree once stood in Deerfield and was part of the early 1900’s photographic study by Bess Dunn.

This Wisconsin Trail Tree appeared in Wisconsin Archeologist in the 1960’s, photographed by Dr. Ritzenthaler.	Trail Marker Tree located on a Missouri Military Base.	Single and Double Trunk Trail Marker Trees located near the Roar River Conservation Area, Missouri.

Double Trunk Trail Marker Tree in North Central Illinois.	Trail Marker Tree in Monterey, Tennessee.	This shows a young Trail Marker Tree being shaped by Downes.

Trail Marker Tree in Tennesee.	Trail Marker Tree in Georgia.	Trail Marker Tree in Wisconsin. Boundry Tree in Alabama.

Trail Marker Tree in Southeastern Wisconsin.	Trail Marker Tree located in Southwestern Michigan.	This Michigan Double Trunk Trail Marker Tree has been protected by locals for generations.

Trail Marker Tree in demise, located near Blue Mound State Park, Wisconsin.	Trail Marker Tree in Fayette, Missouri.	Trail Marker Tree in Missouri, found by Scott Holmes.

White Oak Trail Marker Tree that once stood in Round Lake, Illinois – first brought to Downes’ attention by B. White	Illinois Hickory Trail Marker Tree.

Well-known Trail Marker Tree, that once stood in Kenilworth, Illinois.	Trail Marker Tree in Zion, Illinois, first documented in the early 1900’s, then in 1935 commemorated by Daughters of the American Revolution, and later verified by Elders from the Forest County Potawatomi Reservation in 2001.	Deerfield, Illinois-Trail Marker Tree is protected and commemorated by a sign.



This Illinois Trail Marker Tree is now partially buried, but was sketched and documented in 1910 when it was still visibly above ground, this tree is now protected.


Trail Marker Tree that once stood at the Exmoor Country Club, Illinois, still commemorated by the bronze plaque placed in 1935.

Many Trail Marker Trees throughout Illinois, particularly the North Shore, were commemorated with plaques and signs.	Map of Wilmette based from an early 1800’s Map showing the location of several Indian Trail Trees.

Trail Marker Tree along the old stage coach line in Wisconsin.

This sign commemorates the Halfway Tree, a Marker Tree in Brodhead, Wisconsin,
that marks that halfway point on the shortest trail from Lake Michigan to the
Mississippi River taken by the Native Americans.

Mr. Downes would like to thank all the American Indians, Historians, Anthropologists and Elders that have worked with him and continue to do so. He would also like to thank his research team, the ethnologists, archeologists, historical societies, the Lake County Forest Preserve System of Illinois, the many National Forestry Agencies across the country, museums as well as the thousands of patrons who have provided assistance and support over the years without which this study would not have been able to continue.

Our Society | Events | Faq's | Trail Tree Photos | Sculptures | Articles & References | A Poem | Trail Tree Comparison | Trail Tree Book | Home

contact us by email: research@greatlakestrailtreesociety.org
contact us by phone: 847.395.8875