Sorin Oak

The Sorin Oak tree is the biggest oak tree in Austin, named after Edward Sorin, the founder of Notre Dame and St. Edward’s University. It has been said that Edward Sorin stood under the tree and stated he would start St. Edward’s Academy. The tree is about 250-300 years old standing at 43 feet tall. It has survived a mysterious fire that destroyed St. Edward’s Main Building in 1903 as well as a tornado that struck campus in 1922. Through the years, this massive tree has been one of the biggest attractions on our campus. It forms part of the rooting of the St. Edward’s ring, where students touch the tree with the ring to leave their roots with the tree.