23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Maple in Appalachia

This old maple sits in my parents' front yard in St. Albans, WV. I grew up climbing this tree, and it truly feels like a tree out of a fairy tale, especially the older it gets. The juxtaposition of this other-worldly tree with the quintessential Appalachian hills and truck in the background present a sense of mystery and also a snapshot of a particular geographic area in the United States.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2024
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: St. Albans, West Virginia, United States of America
Copyright: © Adele Thumm