Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary: Presidents Who Wood
Posted on Monday, February 16, 2026
Categories:
History
This Presidents' Day 2026, we’re celebrating not only our great presidents, but also America’s 250th anniversary — the Semiquincentennial of the nation our forests helped build. From the very first settlements to the homes, barns, and bridges that followed, American lumber has been part of the story.
Here are a few fun (and real) presidential ties to the lumber industry from Presidents Who Wood:
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George Washington — The legendary story of young George and the cherry tree (“I cannot tell a lie…”) may be a myth, but the first president was a true steward of timber. At Mount Vernon he planted hundreds of trees specifically for shade, fruit, and lumber.
- Abraham Lincoln — Before he was president, “Honest Abe” was a rail splitter who earned a living with an axe. He is famously credited with the wisdom: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
- Theodore Roosevelt — The “Conservation President” created the U.S. Forest Service and protected 230 million acres of public land — including 150 national forests — ensuring America’s timber resources would last for generations.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt — During the Great Depression his Civilian Conservation Corps (“Tree Army”) planted more than 3 billion trees across the country, restoring forests and strengthening the future of American lumber.
From hatchets and rails to national forests and billions of new trees, America’s leaders have always understood the value of our woodlands.
Here’s to strong leadership, healthy forests, and the quality American lumber that continues to build this great nation. This deep appreciation runs through our history like the grain in a fine piece of timber—practical, enduring, and essential to building a nation.
Deep Dive
It starts at the very beginning. Early settlers relied on abundant forests for shelter, fuel, tools, and trade. George Washington, our first president and a lifelong farmer and landowner, actively managed woodlands at Mount Vernon. He planted trees not just for beauty or fruit, but with an eye toward future lumber and sustainable use—showing even then that stewardship and productivity could go hand in hand.
Abraham Lincoln embodied the raw, hands-on side of that relationship. Before leading the country through its greatest trial, he split rails in the Indiana and Illinois frontiers, wielding an axe to clear land and earn a living. That experience shaped his famous (and wise) approach: give him six hours to fell a tree, and he'd spend four sharpening the axe. It's a timeless reminder that preparation and smart effort matter more than brute force—lessons that still guide sustainable forestry and efficient milling today.
As America grew and industrialized, unchecked logging threatened to deplete those once-limitless resources. Enter Theodore Roosevelt, the "Conservation President." A hunter, outdoorsman, and visionary, he saw forests as vital to national strength and future prosperity. Working with Gifford Pinchot, he transformed forest policy by establishing the U.S. Forest Service in 1905 and protecting over 230 million acres—including 150 national forests. His bold actions ensured timber would remain available for generations, balancing use with wise management rather than short-term exploitation.
The Great Depression brought another chapter with Franklin D. Roosevelt. His Civilian Conservation Corps—the "Tree Army"—employed millions of young men during tough times, planting more than 3 billion trees, fighting soil erosion, building trails and firebreaks, and restoring forests ravaged by overcutting and neglect. It was conservation as economic recovery: putting people to work while investing in the land that would support future building and industry.
These presidential legacies show a consistent thread—America's leaders recognized woodlands as more than raw material. They were infrastructure, economy, security, and legacy all in one. From Washington's thoughtful planting to Lincoln's axe-sharpening wisdom, from TR's massive protections to FDR's massive reforestation, our presidents helped ensure forests would fuel progress without being exhausted.
Today, as we mark Presidents’ Day 2026 and approach America's 250th anniversary, that understanding remains vital. Healthy, well-managed forests supply the quality American lumber that builds our homes, businesses, schools, and communities. They store carbon, protect watersheds, support wildlife, and sustain rural jobs. At A.D. Moyer Lumber, we're proud to carry forward this tradition—delivering sustainable, high-quality lumber that honors the past while building the future.
Here’s to the leaders who saw the long view, to the woodlands that have shaped us, and to the next 250 years of American strength grown from American soil and trees.
Tagged:America 250