Eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) is an economically and ecologically important hardwood species that has been used throughout the history of settlement in North America. It was a resource that helped Native Americans in their everyday life, it helped European settlers carve a living out of the wilderness, and it has helped rural farmers and private landowners subsist and invest in the future. Described here is a brief history of black walnut breeding and molecular genetics research. Current genetic research may ultimately lead to the domestication of black walnut, an event that would be a hallmark for forest tree species.