Phelps Gate Elm

This 50 year old American Elm tree (Ulmus americana) grew in front of Phelps Gate on Old Campus. For the past five decades freshman walked under the boughs of this tree when they arrived at Yale and four years later marched in full regalia under its branches at graduation. The tree suffered from disease, began dropping its branches and had to be removed in September 2012. There is no tree or location on campus that is more iconic of Yale than Phelps gate and this tree, which is the namesake of Elm City.