Posted in West Virginia Explore, History December 31, 2021 by Cristy

The Sweet Story Behind The Massive, WWII-Era French Oak Trees Growing In West Virginia

Perched on a pleasant point where two rivers meet is one of West Virginia’s smallest state parks. And in this tiny park are a handful of regal old oak trees. But these aren’t just any oak trees – they’re French Oak trees in West Virginia, and the story behind their growing here is a sweet tale of courage, alliances, and thankfulness among friends.

Tu-Endie-Wei State Park in Point Pleasant, West Virginia is a small but mighty West Virginia State Park. In terms of history, it's one of the most significant plots of ground in the Mountain State.

Ancient artifacts were found and are stored here. Wars were fought here - and we do mean more than one. Great men and women are buried and memorialized here.

And among all the well-known stories of heroism and daring and enmity and bloodshed, there's another story. This one's not as well known, although it also involves heroism and bloodshed. But this time, it's not a violent story of enmity - it's a sweet story of a friendship: the alliance between the United States and France during World War II.

After World War II ended, France sent a massive thank-you gift to the United States - an entire train. Known as the Merci Train, this mammoth present included a boxcar for each state. And in West Virginia's boxcar from France were a handful of young oak saplings, meant to be a living testament to the enduring friendship between France and America.

The oaks were planted on Point Pleasant. Several of the original saplings still remain, only now they are massive, seventy-year-old trees.

There are also a few younger trees, second generation oaks from those original saplings.

Oh, and one last thing. You can still visit West Virginia's Merci Train boxcar, the one sent from France in 1949. It's not in Point Pleasant, though - you'll find it in Welch, West Virginia instead. It's located on Riverside Drive in Welch, very near where Riverside Drive intersects with Route 52.

When you were on the point in Point Pleasant, did you notice the French Oaks? Now you know their story. And if you love little tidbits of trivia about the Mountain State, you might also like the story of West Virginia’s two best dressed fleas.

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Address: Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, 1 Main St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550, USA