Hangman's Elm
Hangman's Elm, or simply "The Hanging Tree", is an English Elm located at the northwest corner in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City. It stood at 135 feet (41.15 m) tall when last measured nearly 35 years ago, and has a diameter of 67 inches (1.70 m).

In 1989, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation determined that this English Elm was 310 years old. (Currently their website states: "Historical records suggest that it is more than 300 years old."). As a result, many believe that it is the oldest known tree in Manhattan. The elm has outlived the city’s other famous old trees: Peter Stuyvesant’s pear tree at the northeast corner of 13th Street and Third Avenue, and the great Tulip poplar at Shorakapkok in Washington Heights.

The earliest references to the elm as a "hanging tree" date from the late 19th century, long after the supposed hangings were said to have taken place. Recent extensive research into the park's history by more than one historian has shown that the tree was on a private farm until the land was bought by the city and added to Washington Square in 1827. No public records exist of hangings from this tree.

The only recorded execution in this area was of Rose Butler, in 1820, for arson. She was hanged from a gallows in the city's potter's field, on the eastern side of Minetta Creek, about 500 feet (150 meters) from the elm; at that time, Minetta Creek ran in a shallow ravine between the potter's field and the farm where the elm stood.

This tree was the source of inspiration for writer Susan M. Silver’s book "The Ballad of Hangman’s Elm" (2020), a parable about the COVID pandemic as seen through the elm's eyes.
Q1342743
English Elm
Concept
Q909592
Washington Square Park
LOC
Q205380
Greenwich Village
LOC
Q11299
Manhattan
LOC
Q60
New York City
LOC
Q1894232
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
ORG
Q161536
Peter Stuyvesant
PER
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13th Street
UNK
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Third Avenue
LOC
Q158783
Tulip poplar
Concept
None
Shorakapkok
UNK
Q1370292
Washington Heights
LOC
Q48817581
Rose Butler
PER
Q243778
gallows
Concept
Q859551
potter's field
Concept
Q6864566
Minetta Creek
LOC
Q1407769
Hangman's Elm
MISC
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1989
DATE
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DATE
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41.15
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67
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150
NUMBER
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NUMBER
location
located in the administrative territorial entity
located in the administrative territorial entity
located in the administrative territorial entity