A massive white oak tree brought down by a summer thunderstorm stood tall for close to 200 years before the campus of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan began growing up around it.

It's amazing when you think about it, the felled tree is likely between 350 and 400 years old.  Every person to ever visit the campus of what's now Michigan State University could have walked by the massive tree.

A small portion of the centuries old tree remains between the MSU Museum and Linton Hall in the West circle area of campus.  It previously shaded a stone water fountain dedicated by the class of 1900, which served both humans and the horses they rode to campus.

The majority of the tree was harvested by MSU grounds staff shortly after the July 8 storm.  Here's more from the Lansing State Journal.

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