City Government
Anne Frank Chestnut Topples In Amsterdam
August 23, 2010 
As Boiseans clean up downed trees following the weekend windstorm, the cleanup of a single tree in Holland has gathered worldwide attention…and like most world events, there is a Boise angle.
The giant chestnut tree that gave comfort to Anne Frank while she was in hiding from the Nazis was toppled by wind and heavy rain on Monday in Amsterdam.
There is a clone of the tree sitting in Washington, D.C. destined to Boise after quarantine, according to the city forester.
The famous tree, now diseased and rotted through the trunk, snapped about 3 feet above ground and crashed across several gardens. It damaged a brick wall and several sheds, but nearby buildings – including the Anne Frank House museum – escaped unscathed. No one was injured, a museum spokeswoman said.
In 2007 during a trip for the day job, the GUARDIAN presented a photo montage to the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam of the Boise Anne Frank Memorial along the river between Capitol and 9th Streets. At that time we photographed a museum curator holding the Boise photos–in front of the famous Chestnut Tree.
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Comments & Discussion
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Aug 25, 2010, 9:20 am
One can only wonder what poor Anne would think about the memorial to her even existing in Idaho, let alone the attempts by people like Dave to bask in her reflected glory. The monument allows whites to pride themselves that they would never take part in something like the holocaust, while glossing over the fact that our persecution of the Indians was every bit as brutal as that perpetrated by the Nazis, and continues unabated today in the form of treaty violations and other injustices. It is easy to talk civil rights, but it is much harder to deliver on the promise. Good luck with your sapling.
Aug 26, 2010, 12:27 am
I agree totally. Read the story of Chief Joseph…it makes one want to weep about what the Euro-Americans did to the native population.
Dec 2, 2010, 1:52 am
I think you are missing the point of the monument. Idaho has had a history of being a place that has not been rich in diversity. Unfortunately, many people also associate Idaho with the racist Nazi group that used to live up North. The point of the Anne Frank Memorial is to educate visitors not only on the issues regarding the Holocaust, but the same types of racism that plague our world today. In response to “Reflecting on Anne”: There are many other ways in which the Idaho Human Rights Education Center raises awareness. The monument does a great job introducing these issues to young students as well, providing tours for K-12 graders. There are also many other events in the area that take place outside of the monument. Additionally, a Holocaust survivor who lives in Boise frequently gives talks about her experiences.
Yes, the Native Americans were victims of white settlers, along with countless other racial groups, the LGBT community, etc. As a Native American, I still believe that a monument such as this is the first step in educating others. It’s what Idaho NEEDS.