Heart Pine and Colonial America

Sitting room at Mt. Vernon print available at art.com

The original heart pine floors in George Washington's home at Mr Vernon have taken on a rich warm patina that would be impossible to duplicate with modern methods or materials.

The massive heartwood located in the center of the Longleaf Pine became prized by builders for its strength and beauty. The tree itself came to be known simply as Heart Pine.

Besides its great size and strength, the pine had another distinctive feature. As the tree ages, the resin trapped in the heartwood section slowly begins to crystallize. As it does, the resin becomes translucent. When cut, this translucent nature of the resinous wood allows light to enter the wood and to be reflected back. This gives the polished wood the appearance of glowing. Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello and George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon take advantage of this effect and continue to proudly display their original Heart Pine floors.

The Longleaf Pine was a favorite source for pine sap. For much of its early history, the United States was the world's supplier of rosen, pitch, pine tar and turpentine.

In the years leading up to America’s independence, the British Navy came to depend upon the massive trees that were so tall and straight and had unusual strength. To the great displeasure of the colonies, King George III of England proclaimed that all pine trees with a width greater than 26 inches and within 3 miles of water would thenceforth be property of the Crown. Surveyors were dispatched to mark the trees for the King. Angry colonists set upon them and held them as “guests of honor” at a “party.” There, they were smeared with blistering hot pine tar, covered with chicken feathers and sent off in humiliation as a warning to others.

At the same time, England found itself cut off from its Scandinavian supplier of “naval” supplies. Sailing vessels in those days relied on pine pitch to seal the joints below the water line to make them sea worthy.

“Naval” stores flourished in the Southern states to provide the pine tar, turpentine, pitch, and resin that was essential to the British Navy. Throughout the19th century, the United States supplied the bulk of the world's turpentine and pine tar, by tapping the Long Leaf Pine for its sap and rendering it down into its byproducts.

click here to learn about the Boom and Bust days of heart pine...


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It's all how you slice it! We offer reclaimed heart pine floors in many different looks and styles - from rustic to refined. Our Most Distinctive Floor! Be sure to see this unique collection before it's all gone. Rescued from a turn of the century dry-goods emporium just before it was gutted by fire!	Heart Pine and Colonial America The original heart pine floors in George Washington's home at Mr Vernon have taken on a rich warm patina that would be impossible to duplicate with modern methods or materials. The massive heartwood located in the center of the Longleaf Pine became prized by builders for its strength and beauty. The tree itself came to be known simply as Heart Pine. Besides its great size and strength, the pine had another distinctive feature. As the tree ages, the resin trapped in the heartwood section slowly begins to crystallize. As it does, the resin becomes translucent. When cut, this translucent nature of the resinous wood allows light to enter the wood and to be reflected back. This gives the polished wood the appearance of glowing. Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello and George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon take advantage of this effect and continue to proudly display their original Heart Pine floors. The Longleaf Pine was a favorite source for pine sap. For much of its early history, the United States was the world's supplier of rosen, pitch, pine tar and turpentine. In the years leading up to America’s independence, the British Navy came to depend upon the massive trees that were so tall and straight and had unusual strength. To the great displeasure of the colonies, King George III of England proclaimed that all pine trees with a width greater than 26 inches and within 3 miles of water would thenceforth be property of the Crown. Surveyors were dispatched to mark the trees for the King. Angry colonists set upon them and held them as “guests of honor” at a “party.” There, they were smeared with blistering hot pine tar, covered with chicken feathers and sent off in humiliation as a warning to others. At the same time, England found itself cut off from its Scandinavian supplier of “naval” supplies. Sailing vessels in those days relied on pine pitch to seal the joints below the water line to make them sea worthy. “Naval” stores flourished in the Southern states to provide the pine tar, turpentine, pitch, and resin that was essential to the British Navy. Throughout the19th century, the United States supplied the bulk of the world's turpentine and pine tar, by tapping the Long Leaf Pine for its sap and rendering it down into its byproducts. click here to learn about the Boom and Bust days of heart pine...
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