Planted in 1625, this bonsai tree is currently 391-years-old and has survived the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. The tree belonged to the Yamaki family, who in 1945 lived just two miles away from the spot on which which "Little Boy," the bomb that killed an estimated 140,000 people, was dropped. Somewhat amazingly, the tree and the Yamaki family survived the blast relatively unharmed.

The tree was given as a gift to the United States by bonsai master Masaru Yamaki in 1976. It is currently housed in the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Staff at the arboretum were unaware of the white pine’s connection to Hiroshima until 2001, when Yamaki’s grandsons explained its extraordinary history while visiting the collection.

THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL ARBORETUM

ARKADIUSBEAR

H/T Mymodernmet