Sidney Lanier was a Georgian poet active in the post-Civil War Southern United States.

Lanier visited Brunswick, Georgia several times in his life, spending time with his wife's family and attempting to alleviate health problems.

[2][3] In May 1932, a concrete and bronze marker was erected near the tree, with an inscription containing parts of "The Marshes of Glynn".

[1][4] As part of the unveiling ceremonies, the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer was read aloud.

[3] Around this same time, land reclamation projects in the area caused the surrounding marsh to recede far from the tree, and today the tree is located in the median strip of U.S. Route 17.