The Senator was more than 3,500 years old and one of the largest Cypress trees in the United States at 127 feet tall and 47 feet in circumference. While it had seen better days — a hurricane lopped 40 feet off the top in 1925 — the tree remained an impressive visage and a primordial reminder of Central Florida’s history.

Once a beacon to Central Florida travelers, The Senator lost some of its appeal when Disney arrived in Central Florida with Sea World and Universal Studios in tow. Indeed, even though Micki and I settled just one mile from its location when we first moved to Central Florida a decade ago, I only made one visit to the secluded site in 2005.

It is humbling to think that something which survived more than three millennia could come to such an unfortunate end and I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed The Senator’s grandeur in person.

I took along a camera on that 2005 visit. Below is a small selection of images from that impromptu shoot:

James does not yet grasp the traditions associated with New Year’s Eve. Such as staying awake.