Murray, Kentucky: Shoe Tree

The tree got so overloaded with shoes that it died. Now people nail their shoes to its stump.

Shoe Tree

I have not seen the shoe tree, but my plan next year is to meet the love of my life there and pin up some shoes. Participating in this honored tradition with the most beautiful woman in the world is a dream of mine.

[John, 03/24/2009]

Shoe Tree

The tree is now nothing more than a tall dead stump. It still has many shoes nailed or screwed to it and some lying on the ground at its base. Still it's interesting to see.

The college itself is very beautiful and a nice place to visit.

[Terry, 05/29/2007]

Shoe Tree

There is a shoe tree on the campus of Murray State University. The legend is that every couple who meets on campus and gets married throws their shoes into the tree. Some couples have their wedding under it.

[Marsha, 05/04/2007]

Shoe Tree

There is a shoe tree on the campus of Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. Unlike many of the shoe trees described on this site, most of the shoes on the Murray shoe tree are nailed onto the trunk of the tree.

The campus legend of the tree is as follows: couples who have met and fallen in love while attending Murray State nail their shoes to the tree after they have gotten married. The wife submits one of her shoes, and the husband one of his. If they have children they are supposed to return and nail a baby shoe to the tree.

[Courtney Winstead, 01/24/2006]

Shoe Tree - Newlywed Tradition

There is a Shoe Tree on the campus of Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. One of the biggest campus traditions is for newlyweds, who met while going there to college, to nail their shoes to the tree. Many of the shoes include names and dates written on them. The tree itself is not in the greatest of condition, since it was supposedly hit by lightning several times and is missing most of its limbs. However, people are still drawn by it and it's always a stop on campus tours.

[Alison Windsor, 12/19/2004]