photo: Jason Thrasher
An oak known as the Tree That Owns Itself stands at Finley and Dearing Streets in Athens, Georgia.
Pilgrims travel to the Dearing Street Historic District of Athens, Georgia, in sedans, minivans, and limousines. They visit briefly and leave flowers, or they stay for hours and take selfies. And every year around graduation, students departing the University of Georgia campus show up to say goodbye to one of the city’s most beloved residents.
Each traveler must navigate around a tree growing in the middle of the road. In some communities, people might view this as a hindrance. But in Athens, the white oak slowing down traffic isn’t an obstacle; it’s the celebrity folks are seeking.