Calaveras Big Trees State Park - Revision history

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	The giant sequoia was well known to [[Native Americans in the United States\|Native American]] tribes living in its area. Native American names for the species include ''Wawona'', ''toos-pung-ish'' and ''hea-mi-within'', the latter two in the language of the Tule River Tribe.		The giant sequoia was well known to [[Native Americans in the United States\|Native American]] tribes living in its area. Native American names for the species include ''Wawona'', ''toos-pung-ish'' and ''hea-mi-within'', the latter two in the language of the Tule River Tribe.

	The first reference to the giant sequoias of Calaveras Big Trees by Europeans is in 1833, in the diary of the explorer J. K. Leonard; the reference does not mention any specific locality, but his route would have taken him through the Calaveras Grove.<ref name="Farquhar">{{cite journal\|last=Farquhar\|first=Francis P.\|title=Discovery of the sierra Nevada\|year=1925\|journal=California Historical Society Quarterly\|volume=4\|pages=3–58\|url=http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/exploration_of_the_sierra_nevada/\|issue=1\|doi=10.2307/25177743\|jstor=25177743\|hdl=2027/mdp.39015049981668\|hdl-access=free}}, Yosemite.ca.us</ref> This discovery was not publicized. The next European to see the trees was John M. Wooster, who carved his initials in the bark of the 'Hercules' tree in the Calaveras Grove in 1850; again, this received no publicity. Much more publicity was given to Augustus T. Dowd at the North Grove in 1852, ~~and this is~~ commonly cited as the ~~discovery~~ of both the grove and the species as a whole.<ref name="Farquhar"/>		The first reference to the giant sequoias of Calaveras Big Trees by Europeans was in 1833, in the diary of the explorer J. K. Leonard; the reference does not mention any specific locality, but his route would have taken him through the Calaveras Grove.<ref name="Farquhar">{{cite journal\|last=Farquhar\|first=Francis P.\|title=Discovery of the sierra Nevada\|year=1925\|journal=California Historical Society Quarterly\|volume=4\|pages=3–58\|url=http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/exploration_of_the_sierra_nevada/\|issue=1\|doi=10.2307/25177743\|jstor=25177743\|hdl=2027/mdp.39015049981668\|hdl-access=free}}, Yosemite.ca.us</ref> This discovery was not publicized. The next European to see the trees was John M. Wooster, who carved his initials in the bark of the 'Hercules' tree in the Calaveras Grove in 1850; again, this received no publicity. Much more publicity was given to Augustus T. Dowd at the North Grove in 1852, commonly cited as the discoverer of both the grove and the species as a whole.<ref name="Farquhar"/>

	The "[[Discovery Tree]]" was ~~noted~~ by ~~Augustus T.~~ Dowd in 1852 and felled in 1853, leaving a giant stump and a section of trunk showing the holes made by the augers used to fell it.<ref name="CBTSP"/> It measured {{convert\|25\|ft\|m\|abbr=on}} in diameter at its base and was determined by ring count to be 1,244 years old when felled. A section of the trunk was toured with little fanfare while the stump was later turned into a dance floor. [[John Muir]] wrote an essay titled "The Vandals Then Danced Upon the Stump!" to criticize the felling of the tree.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-13-tr-hiking13-story.html\|title=An autumn walk through Calaveras County's majestic groves\|last=McKinney\|first=John\|date=2002-10-13\|work=Los Angeles Times\|access-date=2018-06-12\|language=en-US\|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>		The "[[Discovery Tree]]" was recorded by Dowd in 1852 and felled in 1853, leaving a giant stump and a section of trunk showing the holes made by the augers used to fell it.<ref name="CBTSP"/> It measured {{convert\|25\|ft\|m\|abbr=on}} in diameter at its base and was determined by ring count to be 1,244 years old when felled. A section of the trunk was toured with little fanfare while the stump was later turned into a dance floor. [[John Muir]] wrote an essay titled "The Vandals Then Danced Upon the Stump!" to criticize the felling of the tree.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-13-tr-hiking13-story.html\|title=An autumn walk through Calaveras County's majestic groves\|last=McKinney\|first=John\|date=2002-10-13\|work=Los Angeles Times\|access-date=2018-06-12\|language=en-US\|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>
	[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Discovery Tree 2.jpg\|thumb\|Discovery Tree ~~- Largest~~ known Giant Sequoia ~~but it~~ was cut down. ~~Notice an~~ adult person ~~in above picture~~ standing on ~~its~~ platform trunk]]		[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Discovery Tree 2.jpg\|thumb\|Discovery Tree, the largest known Giant Sequoia, was cut down. An adult person is standing on the platform trunk]]

	In 1854, a second tree named the "[[Mother of the Forest]]" was stripped of its bark in 1854, to be reassembled at exhibitions. This mortally wounded the tree, since outer layer of protective bark was removed. The tree didn't survive long after, having shed its entire canopy by 1861.<ref name=hutchings1859>{{citation \|title=The Mammoth Trees of California \|work=Hutchings’ California Magazine \|date=March 1859 \|number=33\|page=392 \|url=http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/hutchings_california_magazine/33.pdf}}</ref> In 1908, with the tree unprotected by its fire resistant bark, a fire swept through the area and burned away much of what was left of the tree,<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Hawken \|first1=Paul \|title=Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beau ty to the World \|date=10 May 2007 \|publisher=Penguin \|isbn=978-1-101-20232-6 \|page=51 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lv7TazHZFAIC&pg=PT51 \|language=en}}</ref> leaving a fire-blackened snag.<ref name="Tweed2016">{{cite book \|last=Tweed \|first=William C. \|title=King Sequoia: The Tree That Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We Think about Nature \|date=October 1, 2016 \|publisher=Heyday}}</ref>		In 1854, a second tree named the "[[Mother of the Forest]]" was stripped of its bark in 1854, to be reassembled at exhibitions. This mortally wounded the tree, since outer layer of protective bark was removed. The tree didn't survive long after, having shed its entire canopy by 1861.<ref name=hutchings1859>{{citation \|title=The Mammoth Trees of California \|work=Hutchings’ California Magazine \|date=March 1859 \|number=33\|page=392 \|url=http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/hutchings_california_magazine/33.pdf}}</ref> In 1908, with the tree unprotected by its fire resistant bark, a fire swept through the area and burned away much of what was left of the tree,<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Hawken \|first1=Paul \|title=Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beau ty to the World \|date=10 May 2007 \|publisher=Penguin \|isbn=978-1-101-20232-6 \|page=51 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lv7TazHZFAIC&pg=PT51 \|language=en}}</ref> leaving a fire-blackened snag.<ref name="Tweed2016">{{cite book \|last=Tweed \|first=William C. \|title=King Sequoia: The Tree That Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We Think about Nature \|date=October 1, 2016 \|publisher=Heyday}}</ref>
	[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees 2020sep06 mother of forest.jpg\|thumb\|John Muir for Mother of the Forest]]		[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees 2020sep06 mother of forest.jpg\|thumb\|John Muir for Mother of the Forest]]

	The forest is also home to what remains of the "Father of the Forest", an ancient and exceedingly enormous giant sequoia which fell centuries ago~~, and its remains are still present in the park~~. Reportedly, the tree was 435 ft high with a 110 ft circumference- a "giant of giants".<ref>{{cite web \| url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2018645419/ \| title="Father of the Forest", a Giant of Giants--fallen centuries ago--originally 435 ft. High, 110 ft. Cir., Calaveras Grove, Cal \| website=[[Library of Congress]] }}</ref>		The forest is also home to what remains of the "Father of the Forest", an ancient and exceedingly enormous giant sequoia which fell centuries ago. Reportedly, the tree was 435 ft high with a 110 ft circumference- a "giant of giants".<ref>{{cite web \| url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2018645419/ \| title="Father of the Forest", a Giant of Giants--fallen centuries ago--originally 435 ft. High, 110 ft. Cir., Calaveras Grove, Cal \| website=[[Library of Congress]] }}</ref>

	In early 1880s,<ref>{{cite news \| title= Trip to the Big Trees \| work= Sacramento Daily Union \| date= 8 September 1883 \| page= 2 \| volume= 18 \| number= 15 \| url= https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SDU18830908.2.10&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 \| quote= The "Pioneers’ Cabin" had a large burnt cavity, which this year has been so enlarged by workmen, that a stage could easily pass through it with enough of the tree left on each side to support it in health.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| title= Hanging On By A Branch: The Pioneer Cabin Tree \| author= California State Parks \| date= 2008 \| url= http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=95184}}</ref> a tunnel was cut through the compartments by a private land owner at the request of James Sperry, founder of the Murphys Hotel, so that tourists could pass through it.<ref name="AP">{{cite news \|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/latest-famed-giant-sequoia-topples-california-storms-091457616.html \|title=The Latest: Famed giant sequoia topples in California storms \|agency=[[Associated Press]] \|date=January 9, 2017 \|access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="KramerAssociation2010">{{cite book \| author1= Carol Kramer \| author2= Calaveras Big Trees Association \| title= Calaveras Big Trees \| date= September 6, 2010 \| publisher= [[Arcadia Publishing]] \| isbn= 978-1-4396-2522-4 \| pages= 118– \| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=MPdcyeVvr44C&pg=PT118}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| title= The Calaveras Big Trees North Grove Trail \| first1= Jennifer \| last1= Bourn \| date= September 28, 2016 \| publisher= Inspiredimperfection.com \| url= https://inspiredimperfection.com/adventures/calaveras-big-trees-north-grove-trail/ \| access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="LOC">{{cite web \| title= The Pioneer's Cabin and Pluto's Chimney – Big Tree Grove, Calaveras County \| format= Albumen Photograph \| publisher= Library of Congress \| year= 1866 \| url= https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a28088/ \| access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CBS">{{Cite news \| title= Iconic Pioneer Cabin tree falls during strong Northern California storm \| author= <!--No byline --> \| date= January 9, 2017 \| work= [[CBS News]] \| format= Video \| url= http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iconic-pioneer-cabin-tree-falls-during-strong-northern-california-storm/ \| access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref> The tree was chosen in part because of the large forest fire scar. The [[Pioneer Cabin Tree]], as it was soon called, emulated the tunnel carved into Yosemite's [[Wawona Tree]], and was intended to compete with it for tourists.<ref name="Hongo">{{cite web \| title= After More Than 100 Years, California's Iconic Tunnel Tree Is No More\| first= Hudson\| last= Hongo \| newspaper= [[Gizmodo]] \| date= January 9, 2017 \| url= https://gizmodo.com/after-more-than-100-years-californias-iconic-tunnel-tr-1790964594 \| access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Mazza">{{cite news \| title= GREEN: Pioneer Cabin Tree, Iconic Giant Sequoia With 'Tunnel', Falls In Storm \| first= Ed \| last= Mazza \| newspaper= [[The Huffington Post]] \| date= January 9, 2017 \| url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pioneer-cabin-tree-great-sequoia-fallen_us_58731f8be4b099cdb0fe05f9 \| access-date= January 9, 2017 \| quote= The tree was “barely alive” due to the hole punched through it in the 1880s.}}</ref><ref name="Summers2012">{{cite book \| first= Jordan \| last= Summers \| title= 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Sacramento: Including Auburn, Folsom, and Davis \| date= May 15, 2012 \| location= Birmingham, Alabama \| publisher= Menasha Ridge Press \| isbn= 0897326040<!-- \| ISBN= 978-0897326049 --> \| page= 120 \| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tNC47X7rovgC&pg=PA120}}</ref>		In early 1880s,<ref>{{cite news \| title= Trip to the Big Trees \| work= Sacramento Daily Union \| date= 8 September 1883 \| page= 2 \| volume= 18 \| number= 15 \| url= https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SDU18830908.2.10&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 \| quote= The "Pioneers’ Cabin" had a large burnt cavity, which this year has been so enlarged by workmen, that a stage could easily pass through it with enough of the tree left on each side to support it in health.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| title= Hanging On By A Branch: The Pioneer Cabin Tree \| author= California State Parks \| date= 2008 \| url= http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=95184 }}{{Dead link\|date=August 2025 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> a tunnel was cut through the compartments by a private land owner at the request of James Sperry, founder of the Murphys Hotel, so that tourists could pass through it.<ref name="AP">{{cite news \|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/latest-famed-giant-sequoia-topples-california-storms-091457616.html \|title=The Latest: Famed giant sequoia topples in California storms \|agency=[[Associated Press]] \|date=January 9, 2017 \|access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="KramerAssociation2010">{{cite book \| author1= Carol Kramer \| author2= Calaveras Big Trees Association \| title= Calaveras Big Trees \| date= September 6, 2010 \| publisher= [[Arcadia Publishing]] \| isbn= 978-1-4396-2522-4 \| pages= 118– \| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=MPdcyeVvr44C&pg=PT118}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| title= The Calaveras Big Trees North Grove Trail \| first1= Jennifer \| last1= Bourn \| date= September 28, 2016 \| publisher= Inspiredimperfection.com \| url= https://inspiredimperfection.com/adventures/calaveras-big-trees-north-grove-trail/ \| access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="LOC">{{cite web \| title= The Pioneer's Cabin and Pluto's Chimney – Big Tree Grove, Calaveras County \| format= Albumen Photograph \| publisher= Library of Congress \| year= 1866 \| url= https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a28088/ \| access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CBS">{{Cite news \| title= Iconic Pioneer Cabin tree falls during strong Northern California storm \| author= <!--No byline --> \| date= January 9, 2017 \| work= [[CBS News]] \| format= Video \| url= http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iconic-pioneer-cabin-tree-falls-during-strong-northern-california-storm/ \| access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref> The tree was chosen in part because of the large forest fire scar. The [[Pioneer Cabin Tree]], as it was soon called, emulated the tunnel carved into Yosemite's [[Wawona Tree]], and was intended to compete with it for tourists.<ref name="Hongo">{{cite web \| title= After More Than 100 Years, California's Iconic Tunnel Tree Is No More\| first= Hudson\| last= Hongo \| newspaper= [[Gizmodo]] \| date= January 9, 2017 \| url= https://gizmodo.com/after-more-than-100-years-californias-iconic-tunnel-tr-1790964594 \| access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Mazza">{{cite news \| title= GREEN: Pioneer Cabin Tree, Iconic Giant Sequoia With 'Tunnel', Falls In Storm \| first= Ed \| last= Mazza \| newspaper= [[The Huffington Post]] \| date= January 9, 2017 \| url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pioneer-cabin-tree-great-sequoia-fallen_us_58731f8be4b099cdb0fe05f9 \| access-date= January 9, 2017 \| quote= The tree was “barely alive” due to the hole punched through it in the 1880s.}}</ref><ref name="Summers2012">{{cite book \| first= Jordan \| last= Summers \| title= 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Sacramento: Including Auburn, Folsom, and Davis \| date= May 15, 2012 \| location= Birmingham, Alabama \| publisher= Menasha Ridge Press \| isbn= 0897326040<!-- \| ISBN= 978-0897326049 --> \| page= 120 \| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tNC47X7rovgC&pg=PA120}}</ref>

	===Preservation===		===Preservation===

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	{{Short description\|State park in California, US}}		{{Short description\|State park in California, US}}
	{{redirect\|Big Trees, California\|other Californian topics\|Big Tree (disambiguation)}}		{{redirect\|Big Trees, California\|other Californian topics\|Big Tree (disambiguation)}}
			{{Use American English\|date=June 2025}}
	{{Use mdy dates\|date=July 2023}}		{{Use mdy dates\|date=July 2023}}
	{{Infobox protected area		{{Infobox protected area

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{{Short description|State park in California, US}}
{{redirect|Big Trees, California|other Californian topics|Big Tree (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Calaveras Big Trees State Park
| iucn_category =
| photo = File:Calaveras Big Trees State Park - South Grove, CA - panoramio (8).jpg
| photo_caption = [[Giant sequoias]] in Calaveras South Grove
| map = California#USA
| relief = 1
| location = [[Calaveras County, California|Calaveras]] and [[Tuolumne County, California|Tuolumne]] counties, California, United States
| nearest_city = [[Arnold, California]]
| coordinates = {{coord|38|16|22|N|120|17|26|W|region:US-CA|display=inline, title}}
| area_acre = 6498
| elevation = {{cvt|4560–4920|ft|m}}
| established = 1931
| visitation_num = more than 250,000{{r|TUD 2022-02-04}}
| visitation_year = 2022
| governing_body = [[California Department of Parks and Recreation]]
}}
'''Calaveras Big Trees State Park''' is a [[state park]] of [[California]], United States, preserving two groves of [[Sequoiadendron giganteum|giant sequoia]] trees. Located 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of [[Arnold, California]] in the middle elevations of the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]], it has been a major tourist attraction since 1852, when the existence of the trees was first widely reported. Two famous [[exhibition tree]]s, the [[Discovery Tree]] and the [[Mother of the Forest]], were felled for display. It is also considered the longest continuously operated [[tourist attraction]] in California.

==History==
===Early history===
[[File: Giant sequoia exhibitionism.jpg|thumb|Shortly after their discovery by Europeans, giant sequoias were subject to many exhibitions]]
The giant sequoia was well known to [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes living in its area. Native American names for the species include ''Wawona'', ''toos-pung-ish'' and ''hea-mi-within'', the latter two in the language of the Tule River Tribe.

The first reference to the giant sequoias of Calaveras Big Trees by Europeans is in 1833, in the diary of the explorer J. K. Leonard; the reference does not mention any specific locality, but his route would have taken him through the Calaveras Grove.<ref name="Farquhar">{{cite journal|last=Farquhar|first=Francis P.|title=Discovery of the sierra Nevada|year=1925|journal=California Historical Society Quarterly|volume=4|pages=3–58|url=http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/exploration_of_the_sierra_nevada/|issue=1|doi=10.2307/25177743|jstor=25177743|hdl=2027/mdp.39015049981668|hdl-access=free}}, Yosemite.ca.us</ref> This discovery was not publicized. The next European to see the trees was John M. Wooster, who carved his initials in the bark of the 'Hercules' tree in the Calaveras Grove in 1850; again, this received no publicity. Much more publicity was given to Augustus T. Dowd at the North Grove in 1852, and this is commonly cited as the discovery of both the grove and the species as a whole.<ref name="Farquhar"/>

The "[[Discovery Tree]]" was noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852 and felled in 1853, leaving a giant stump and a section of trunk showing the holes made by the augers used to fell it.<ref name="CBTSP"/> It measured {{convert|25|ft|m|abbr=on}} in diameter at its base and was determined by ring count to be 1,244 years old when felled. A section of the trunk was toured with little fanfare while the stump was later turned into a dance floor. [[John Muir]] wrote an essay titled "The Vandals Then Danced Upon the Stump!" to criticize the felling of the tree.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-13-tr-hiking13-story.html|title=An autumn walk through Calaveras County's majestic groves|last=McKinney|first=John|date=2002-10-13|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-06-12|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>
[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Discovery Tree 2.jpg|thumb|Discovery Tree - Largest known Giant Sequoia but it was cut down. Notice an adult person in above picture standing on its platform trunk]]

In 1854, a second tree named the "[[Mother of the Forest]]" was stripped of its bark in 1854, to be reassembled at exhibitions. This mortally wounded the tree, since outer layer of protective bark was removed. The tree didn't survive long after, having shed its entire canopy by 1861.<ref name=hutchings1859>{{citation |title=The Mammoth Trees of California |work=Hutchings’ California Magazine |date=March 1859 |number=33|page=392 |url=http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/hutchings_california_magazine/33.pdf}}</ref> In 1908, with the tree unprotected by its fire resistant bark, a fire swept through the area and burned away much of what was left of the tree,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hawken |first1=Paul |title=Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beau ty to the World |date=10 May 2007 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-101-20232-6 |page=51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lv7TazHZFAIC&pg=PT51 |language=en}}</ref> leaving a fire-blackened snag.<ref name="Tweed2016">{{cite book |last=Tweed |first=William C. |title=King Sequoia: The Tree That Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We Think about Nature |date=October 1, 2016 |publisher=Heyday}}</ref>
[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees 2020sep06 mother of forest.jpg|thumb|John Muir for Mother of the Forest]]

The forest is also home to what remains of the "Father of the Forest", an ancient and exceedingly enormous giant sequoia which fell centuries ago, and its remains are still present in the park. Reportedly, the tree was 435 ft high with a 110 ft circumference- a "giant of giants".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2018645419/ | title="Father of the Forest", a Giant of Giants--fallen centuries ago--originally 435 ft. High, 110 ft. Cir., Calaveras Grove, Cal | website=[[Library of Congress]] }}</ref>

In early 1880s,<ref>{{cite news | title= Trip to the Big Trees | work= Sacramento Daily Union | date= 8 September 1883 | page= 2 | volume= 18 | number= 15 | url= https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SDU18830908.2.10&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 | quote= The "Pioneers’ Cabin" had a large burnt cavity, which this year has been so enlarged by workmen, that a stage could easily pass through it with enough of the tree left on each side to support it in health.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Hanging On By A Branch: The Pioneer Cabin Tree | author= California State Parks | date= 2008 | url= http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=95184}}</ref> a tunnel was cut through the compartments by a private land owner at the request of James Sperry, founder of the Murphys Hotel, so that tourists could pass through it.<ref name="AP">{{cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/latest-famed-giant-sequoia-topples-california-storms-091457616.html |title=The Latest: Famed giant sequoia topples in California storms |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=January 9, 2017 |access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="KramerAssociation2010">{{cite book | author1= Carol Kramer | author2= Calaveras Big Trees Association | title= Calaveras Big Trees | date= September 6, 2010 | publisher= [[Arcadia Publishing]] | isbn= 978-1-4396-2522-4 | pages= 118– | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=MPdcyeVvr44C&pg=PT118}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= The Calaveras Big Trees North Grove Trail | first1= Jennifer | last1= Bourn | date= September 28, 2016 | publisher= Inspiredimperfection.com | url= https://inspiredimperfection.com/adventures/calaveras-big-trees-north-grove-trail/ | access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="LOC">{{cite web | title= The Pioneer's Cabin and Pluto's Chimney – Big Tree Grove, Calaveras County | format= Albumen Photograph | publisher= Library of Congress | year= 1866 | url= https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a28088/ | access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CBS">{{Cite news | title= Iconic Pioneer Cabin tree falls during strong Northern California storm | author=  | date= January 9, 2017 | work= [[CBS News]] | format= Video | url= http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iconic-pioneer-cabin-tree-falls-during-strong-northern-california-storm/ | access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref> The tree was chosen in part because of the large forest fire scar. The [[Pioneer Cabin Tree]], as it was soon called, emulated the tunnel carved into Yosemite's [[Wawona Tree]], and was intended to compete with it for tourists.<ref name="Hongo">{{cite web | title= After More Than 100 Years, California's Iconic Tunnel Tree Is No More| first= Hudson| last= Hongo | newspaper= [[Gizmodo]] | date= January 9, 2017 | url= https://gizmodo.com/after-more-than-100-years-californias-iconic-tunnel-tr-1790964594 | access-date= January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Mazza">{{cite news | title= GREEN: Pioneer Cabin Tree, Iconic Giant Sequoia With 'Tunnel', Falls In Storm | first= Ed | last= Mazza | newspaper= [[The Huffington Post]] | date= January 9, 2017 | url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pioneer-cabin-tree-great-sequoia-fallen_us_58731f8be4b099cdb0fe05f9 | access-date= January 9, 2017 | quote= The tree was “barely alive” due to the hole punched through it in the 1880s.}}</ref><ref name="Summers2012">{{cite book | first= Jordan | last= Summers | title= 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Sacramento: Including Auburn, Folsom, and Davis | date= May 15, 2012 | location= Birmingham, Alabama | publisher= Menasha Ridge Press | isbn= 0897326040 | page= 120 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tNC47X7rovgC&pg=PA120}}</ref>

===Preservation===
Along with the 1850s exhibitions, the destruction of the big trees was met with public outcry.<ref>{{cite news |title=How a giant tree's death sparked the conservation movement 160 years ago |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2013/jun/27/giant-tree-death-conservation-movement |last=Hickman |first=Leo |date=27 June 2013 |access-date=12 January 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> In 1864, on introducing the bill that would become the [[Yosemite Grant]], senator [[John Conness]] opined that even after people had seen the physical evidence of the [[Discovery Tree]] and the [[Mother of the Forest]], they still did not believe the trees were genuine, and that the areas they were from should be protected.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Congressional Globe |date=May 18, 1864|work=A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875 |url=https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llcg&fileName=066/llcg066.db&recNum=350 |page=2301 |quote=From the Calaveras grove some sections of a fallen tree were cut during and pending the great World’s Fair that was held in London some years since. One joint of the tree was sectionized and transported to that country in sections, and then set up there. The English who saw it declared it to be a Yankee invention, made from beginning to end; that it was an utter untruth that such trees grew in the country; that it could not be}}</ref> This did not guarantee any legal protection for the trees of Calaveras Grove.

By the turn of the century the land was owned by several lumber companies, with plans to cut the remaining trees down, as sequoia and giant sequoia with their thick trunks were seen as great sources of lumber at the time.<ref>{{citation|newspaper=The Strand Magazine |title=Timber Titans |last=Dollar |first=George |volume=14 |number=79 |date=July 1897 |url=https://archive.org/stream/TheStrandMagazineAnIllustratedMonthly/TheStrandMagazine1897bVol.XivJul-dec#page/n95/mode/2up}}</ref> This again caused a chorus of public outcry by locals and [[conservation movement|conservationists]], and the area continued to be treated as a tourist attraction. Parcels of land that would later become the state park and nearby national park were optioned by lumberman [[Robert P. Whiteside]] in January 1900, with the intention of logging. A protracted battle to preserve the trees was launched by [[Laura Lyon White]] and the [[California Club (civic organization)|California Club]]. Legislation in 1900 and 1909 authorized the federal government to purchase the property, but Whiteside refused to sell the land at the offered price, preferring its higher valuation as parkland. It was not until 1931 that Whiteside's family began to divest the property, beginning with the North Grove.<ref name=binkley>{{cite journal|last1=Binkley|first1=Cameron|title=A Cult of Beauty: The Public Life and Civic Work of Laura Lyon White|journal=California History|volume=82|number=2|date=2005|jstor=25161804|pages=48–49|doi=10.2307/25161804 }}</ref>

The Yosemite protection was gradually extended to most sequoias,<ref name="hartesveldt">{{cite book|last1=Hartesveldt|first1=Richard J.|title=The Giant Sequoia of the Sierra Nevada|date=1975|publisher=[[U.S. Department of the Interior]], [[National Park Service]]|page=3|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/science/hartesveldt/}}</ref> and Calaveras Grove was joined to [[California State Parks]] in 1931.<ref>{{cite book |title=Calaveras Big Trees |last=Kramer |first=Carol |date=2010 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9781439625224 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=MPdcyeVvr44C }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Our National Park Policy: A Critical History |last=Isne |first=John |publisher=Routledge |date=2013 |page=115 |isbn=9781135990503 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Km2MAQAAQBAJ&q=1931&pg=PA115}}</ref> According to [[John Muir]] the forest protected by the park is: "A flowering glade in the very heart of the woods, forming a fine center for the student, and a delicious resting place for the weary."<ref name="StJohn">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-live-winter-weather-california-iconic-sequoia-tree-in-california-state-1483942759-htmlstory.html |date=January 8, 2017 |location=Truckee, California |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |title=An iconic tunnel tree in a California state park is no more after huge storm
|first1=Paige |last1=St. John |first2=Matt |last2=Hamilton |access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>
[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Calaveras Grove Asso Save the Redwood.jpg|thumb|Save-the-Redwood and Calaveras-Grove-Association bought the parcels of land to make Calaveras Big Tree State Park]]

Over the years other parcels of mixed conifer forests, including the much larger South Calaveras Grove of Giant Sequoias (purchased in 1954 for US$2.8 million, equivalent to US ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|2800000|1954|r=0}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars), have been added to the park to bring the total area to over {{convert|6400|acre|ha}}. The North Grove contains about 100 mature giant sequoias; the South Grove, about 1,000.<ref name="CBTSP"/> The state park now encompasses {{convert|6498|acre|ha}} in [[Calaveras County, California|Calaveras]] and [[Tuolumne County, California|Tuolumne]] counties.<ref>{{cite web | title = California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10 | url = http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/795/files/09-10%20statistical%20report%20final%20online.pdf | publisher = California State Parks | page = 18 | access-date = October 29, 2011}}</ref><ref name="CBTSP">{{cite web |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551 |title=Calaveras Big Trees State Park |access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>

===Fire management===
The importance of fire to giant sequoias cannot be overstated. Other than the change of seasons, fire is the most recurrent and critical process in determining the life history of this species. [[Tree ring]] records from giant sequoias show that frequent surface fires were the typical pattern of fire occurrence over the past 2,000 years. But this pattern changed after about 1860, when fire frequency declined sharply. This decline in regional fire was probably a result of decrease in fires set by Native Americans, followed by [[Wildfire suppression|fire suppression]] by government agencies.<ref>{{NPS |title=Giant Sequoias and Fire |url=https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/giant-sequoias-and-fire.htm |access-date=2023-07-14 |website=Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks |publisher=U.S. National Park Service |language=en}}</ref>

The state provided $7 million in 2022 from the Wildfire and Forest Resiliency Program to spend over five years, "to make our forest resilient when a big fire comes through".<ref name="TUD 2022-02-04">{{Cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Guy |date=2022-02-04 |title='This is an emergency': Calaveras Big Trees staff, advocates raise alarm about fire threat to iconic giant sequoias |url=https://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/article_93200084-860d-11ec-8a30-3f71f4d0ece4.html |access-date=2023-07-14 |work=The Union Democrat |language=en}}</ref> A [[prescribed burn]] was conducted by park crews on about {{convert|180| acres}} of the North Grove in late October through early November.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wigglesworth |first=Alex |date=2023-07-12 |title=Anger builds after controlled burn badly damages California sequoias |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-12/anger-builds-after-controlled-burn-damages-sequoia-trees |access-date=2023-07-14 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Attractions==
The '''North Grove''' includes several noteworthy giant sequoias:
*[[Discovery Tree]]: the stump of what was once the largest tree of the park.
*[[Mother of the Forest]]: a fire-blackened snag is all that remains of the second largest tree of the park.
*[[Pioneer Cabin Tree]]: a giant sequoia tree that collapsed during a storm on January 8, 2017; it was one of only two living giant sequoia tunnel trees still standing (the other being the California Tunnel Tree of [[Mariposa Grove]]).
*Empire State: the largest tree of the North Grove, which measures {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on}} at ground level and {{convert|23|ft|m|abbr=on}} at {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on}} above ground.<ref>North Grove Guidebook, Calaveras Big Trees State Park</ref>

The '''South Grove''' also included several noteworthy giant sequoias:
*[[Louis Agassiz (tree)|Louis Agassiz]]: the largest living tree of the Calaveras groves measuring {{convert|250|ft|m}} tall and more than {{convert|25|ft|m}} in diameter {{convert|6|ft|m}} above ground.<ref>{{cite web | title = How Big are Big Trees? | url = http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1146 | publisher = California State Parks | access-date = October 29, 2011}}</ref> It is the [[List of largest giant sequoias|37th largest giant sequoia]] in the world, and could be considered either the 36th or 35th largest depending on how badly [[Ishi Giant]] and Black Mountain Beauty have atrophied following devastating wildfires in [[Rough Fire|2015]] and [[Pier Fire|2017]], respectively.
*Palace Hotel Tree: the second largest living tree of the Calaveras groves; features a large deep burn scar at its base that one can walk into. This tree has nails burned into its inner trunk by past travelers.

Other attractions of Calaveras Big Trees include the [[Stanislaus River]], Beaver Creek, the Lava Bluff Trail, and Bradley Trail.<ref name="CBTSP"/>

<gallery>
File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees 2020sep06 Mother of the Forest.jpg|Mother of the Forest
File:CalaverasTreeTunnel1.jpg[[Pioneer Cabin Tree]] in 2006.
File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Louis Agassiz Tree.jpg|Louis Agassiz Tree - One of the last few Giant Sequoia
File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Giant Sequoia burned in 1908.jpg|Giant Sequoia burned in fire of 1908 holding its ground
File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Palace Tree.jpg|Palace Tree with large hollowed out trunk. Travellers have stuck nails on its internal trunk
</gallery>

==Activities==
The park houses two main campgrounds with a total of 129 campsites, six picnic areas and hundreds of miles of established trails.<ref name="CBTSP"/>

Other activities include cross-country skiing, evening ranger talks, numerous interpretive programs, environmental educational programs, junior ranger programs, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and summer school activities for school children. Dogs are allowed on leash in developed areas like picnic sites, campgrounds, roads and fire roads (dirt). Dogs are not allowed on the designated trails, nor in the woods in general.<ref name="CBTSP"/>
[[File:Sign at Calaveras Big Trees State Park May 11 2025.jpg|alt=A brown sign in the forest with yellow text reading "Calaveras Big Trees State Park".|thumb|The sign at the entrance to the park alongside [[California State Route 4]].]]

==Access==

The park is open year-round. The main road through the park is closed during the winter season. The North Grove Area is easily accessible during the winter season. There are no public transportation options to the park. The closest bus stop is the Arnold Public Library in Arnold, California. The park is accessible via Upper Moran road at gate 15. There is no public parking so the access is used by foot, bicycle, snowshoe or cross-country ski.

==Climate==
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| collapsed = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Calaveras Big Trees State Park (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–present)
| Jan record high F = 73
| Feb record high F = 82
| Mar record high F = 82
| Apr record high F = 88
| May record high F = 93
| Jun record high F = 100
| Jul record high F = 107
| Aug record high F = 106
| Sep record high F = 106
| Oct record high F = 94
| Nov record high F = 89
| Dec record high F = 78
| year record high F = 107
| Jan high F = 45.0
| Feb high F = 45.7
| Mar high F = 48.7
| Apr high F = 54.1
| May high F = 62.6
| Jun high F = 73.0
| Jul high F = 80.5
| Aug high F = 79.8
| Sep high F = 73.7
| Oct high F = 63.5
| Nov high F = 52.0
| Dec high F = 44.0
| year high F = 60.2
| Jan mean F = 37.7
| Feb mean F = 37.9
| Mar mean F = 40.3
| Apr mean F = 44.5
| May mean F = 52.1
| Jun mean F = 61.0
| Jul mean F = 68.1
| Aug mean F = 67.3
| Sep mean F = 62.1
| Oct mean F = 53.0
| Nov mean F = 43.2
| Dec mean F = 36.8
| year mean F = 50.3
| Jan low F = 30.4
| Feb low F = 30.1
| Mar low F = 31.8
| Apr low F = 34.9
| May low F = 41.7
| Jun low F = 49.0
| Jul low F = 55.7
| Aug low F = 54.9
| Sep low F = 50.6
| Oct low F = 42.5
| Nov low F = 34.4
| Dec low F = 29.7
| year low F = 40.5
| Jan record low F = 1
| Feb record low F = 3
| Mar record low F = 8
| Apr record low F = 15
| May record low F = 21
| Jun record low F = 21
| Jul record low F = 31
| Aug record low F = 32
| Sep record low F = 28
| Oct record low F = 20
| Nov record low F = 9
| Dec record low F = 0
| year record low F = 0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 10.57
| Feb precipitation inch = 9.82
| Mar precipitation inch = 8.48
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.59
| May precipitation inch = 2.79
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.95
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.11
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.06
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.39
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.93
| Nov precipitation inch = 5.17
| Dec precipitation inch = 9.65
| year precipitation inch = 55.51
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 11.4
| Feb precipitation days = 11.1
| Mar precipitation days = 10.5
| Apr precipitation days = 7.7
| May precipitation days = 6.0
| Jun precipitation days = 2.3
| Jul precipitation days = 0.4
| Aug precipitation days = 0.6
| Sep precipitation days = 1.9
| Oct precipitation days = 3.7
| Nov precipitation days = 7.3
| Dec precipitation days = 10.8
| year precipitation days = 73.7
| Jan snow inch = 19.3
| Feb snow inch = 25.9
| Mar snow inch = 19.2
| Apr snow inch = 11.4
| May snow inch = 2.2
| Jun snow inch = 0.1
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.3
| Nov snow inch = 7.7
| Dec snow inch = 18.7
| year snow inch = 104.8
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 5.1
| Feb snow days = 5.3
| Mar snow days = 4.6
| Apr snow days = 2.8
| May snow days = 0.9
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.2
| Nov snow days = 1.4
| Dec snow days = 4.3
| year snow days = 24.6
| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sto
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = March 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00041277&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = March 22, 2024}}</ref>
}}

== See also ==
* [[Calaveras Big Tree National Forest]]
* [[Chandelier Tree]] - another tunnel tree, but a [[coast redwood]] not a [[giant sequoia]]
* [[List of giant sequoia groves]]
* [[List of California state parks]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{commons-inline}}
* [http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=551 Calaveras Big Trees State Park]
* [http://www.bigtrees.org/ Calaveras Big Trees Association]
* {{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a28088/ |title=The Pioneer's Cabin and Pluto's Chimney - Big Tree Grove, Calaveras County - B&W Film Copy Neg. |format=Albumen Photograph |publisher=Library of Congress |year=1866 |access-date=January 9, 2017}}

{{Protected areas of California|SP}}
{{Sierra Nevada}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:State parks of California]]
[[Category:Campgrounds in California]]
[[Category:Forests of California]]
[[Category:Giant sequoia groves]]
[[Category:Parks in Calaveras County, California]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1931]]
[[Category:Protected areas of the Sierra Nevada (United States)]]
[[Category:1931 establishments in California]]
[[Category:History of Calaveras County, California]]

← Previous revision		Revision as of 20:10, 17 June 2025
Line 43:		Line 43:
	By the turn of the century the land was owned by several lumber companies, with plans to cut the remaining trees down, as sequoia and giant sequoia with their thick trunks were seen as great sources of lumber at the time.<ref>{{citation\|newspaper=The Strand Magazine \|title=Timber Titans \|last=Dollar \|first=George \|volume=14 \|number=79 \|date=July 1897 \|url=https://archive.org/stream/TheStrandMagazineAnIllustratedMonthly/TheStrandMagazine1897bVol.XivJul-dec#page/n95/mode/2up}}</ref> This again caused a chorus of public outcry by locals and [[conservation movement\|conservationists]], and the area continued to be treated as a tourist attraction. Parcels of land that would later become the state park and nearby national park were optioned by lumberman [[Robert P. Whiteside]] in January 1900, with the intention of logging. A protracted battle to preserve the trees was launched by [[Laura Lyon White]] and the [[California Club (civic organization)\|California Club]]. Legislation in 1900 and 1909 authorized the federal government to purchase the property, but Whiteside refused to sell the land at the offered price, preferring its higher valuation as parkland. It was not until 1931 that Whiteside's family began to divest the property, beginning with the North Grove.<ref name=binkley>{{cite journal\|last1=Binkley\|first1=Cameron\|title=A Cult of Beauty: The Public Life and Civic Work of Laura Lyon White\|journal=California History\|volume=82\|number=2\|date=2005\|jstor=25161804\|pages=48–49\|doi=10.2307/25161804 }}</ref>		By the turn of the century the land was owned by several lumber companies, with plans to cut the remaining trees down, as sequoia and giant sequoia with their thick trunks were seen as great sources of lumber at the time.<ref>{{citation\|newspaper=The Strand Magazine \|title=Timber Titans \|last=Dollar \|first=George \|volume=14 \|number=79 \|date=July 1897 \|url=https://archive.org/stream/TheStrandMagazineAnIllustratedMonthly/TheStrandMagazine1897bVol.XivJul-dec#page/n95/mode/2up}}</ref> This again caused a chorus of public outcry by locals and [[conservation movement\|conservationists]], and the area continued to be treated as a tourist attraction. Parcels of land that would later become the state park and nearby national park were optioned by lumberman [[Robert P. Whiteside]] in January 1900, with the intention of logging. A protracted battle to preserve the trees was launched by [[Laura Lyon White]] and the [[California Club (civic organization)\|California Club]]. Legislation in 1900 and 1909 authorized the federal government to purchase the property, but Whiteside refused to sell the land at the offered price, preferring its higher valuation as parkland. It was not until 1931 that Whiteside's family began to divest the property, beginning with the North Grove.<ref name=binkley>{{cite journal\|last1=Binkley\|first1=Cameron\|title=A Cult of Beauty: The Public Life and Civic Work of Laura Lyon White\|journal=California History\|volume=82\|number=2\|date=2005\|jstor=25161804\|pages=48–49\|doi=10.2307/25161804 }}</ref>

	The Yosemite protection was gradually extended to most sequoias,<ref name="hartesveldt">{{cite book\|last1=Hartesveldt\|first1=Richard J.\|title=The Giant Sequoia of the Sierra Nevada\|date=1975\|publisher=[[U.S. Department of the Interior]], [[National Park Service]]\|page=3\|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/science/hartesveldt/}}</ref> and Calaveras Grove was joined to [[California State Parks]] in 1931.<ref>{{cite book \|title=Calaveras Big Trees \|last=Kramer \|first=Carol \|date=2010 \|publisher=Arcadia Publishing \|isbn=9781439625224 \|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=MPdcyeVvr44C }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|title=Our National Park Policy: A Critical History \|last=Isne \|first=John \|publisher=Routledge \|date=2013 \|page=115 \|isbn=9781135990503 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Km2MAQAAQBAJ&q=1931&pg=PA115}}</ref> According to [[John Muir]] the forest protected by the park is: "A flowering glade in the very heart of the woods, forming a fine center for the student, and a delicious resting place for the weary."<ref name="StJohn">{{cite news \|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-live-winter-weather-california-iconic-sequoia-tree-in-california-state-1483942759-htmlstory.html \|date=January 8, 2017 \|location=Truckee, California \|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] \|title=An iconic tunnel tree in a California state park is no more after huge storm		The Yosemite protection was gradually extended to most sequoias,<ref name="hartesveldt">{{cite book\|last1=Hartesveldt\|first1=Richard J.\|title=The Giant Sequoia of the Sierra Nevada\|date=1975\|publisher=[[U.S. Department of the Interior]], [[National Park Service]]\|page=3\|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/science/hartesveldt/index.htm}}</ref> and Calaveras Grove was joined to [[California State Parks]] in 1931.<ref>{{cite book \|title=Calaveras Big Trees \|last=Kramer \|first=Carol \|date=2010 \|publisher=Arcadia Publishing \|isbn=9781439625224 \|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=MPdcyeVvr44C }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|title=Our National Park Policy: A Critical History \|last=Isne \|first=John \|publisher=Routledge \|date=2013 \|page=115 \|isbn=9781135990503 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Km2MAQAAQBAJ&q=1931&pg=PA115}}</ref> According to [[John Muir]] the forest protected by the park is: "A flowering glade in the very heart of the woods, forming a fine center for the student, and a delicious resting place for the weary."<ref name="StJohn">{{cite news \|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-live-winter-weather-california-iconic-sequoia-tree-in-california-state-1483942759-htmlstory.html \|date=January 8, 2017 \|location=Truckee, California \|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] \|title=An iconic tunnel tree in a California state park is no more after huge storm
	\|first1=Paige \|last1=St. John \|first2=Matt \|last2=Hamilton \|access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>		\|first1=Paige \|last1=St. John \|first2=Matt \|last2=Hamilton \|access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>
	[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Calaveras Grove Asso Save the Redwood.jpg\|thumb\|Save-the-Redwood and Calaveras-Grove-Association bought the parcels of land to make Calaveras Big Tree State Park]]		[[File:US CA SP Calaveras Big Trees Calaveras Grove Asso Save the Redwood.jpg\|thumb\|Save-the-Redwood and Calaveras-Grove-Association bought the parcels of land to make Calaveras Big Tree State Park]]

	Over the years other parcels of mixed conifer forests, including the much larger South Calaveras Grove of Giant Sequoias (purchased in 1954 for US$2.8 million, equivalent to US ${{Formatprice\|{{Inflation\|US\|2800000\|1954\|r=0}}}} in {{Inflation-year\|US}} dollars), have been added to the park to bring the total area to over {{convert\|6400\|acre\|ha}}. The North Grove contains about 100 mature giant sequoias; the South Grove, about 1,000.<ref name="CBTSP"/> The state park now encompasses {{convert\|6498\|acre\|ha}} in [[Calaveras County, California\|Calaveras]] and [[Tuolumne County, California\|Tuolumne]] counties.<ref>{{cite web \| title = California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10 \| url = ~~http~~://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/795/files/09-10%20statistical%20report%20final%20online.pdf \| publisher = California State Parks \| page = 18 \| access-date = October 29, 2011}}</ref><ref name="CBTSP">{{cite web \|url=~~http~~://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551 \|title=Calaveras Big Trees State Park \|access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>		Over the years other parcels of mixed conifer forests, including the much larger South Calaveras Grove of Giant Sequoias (purchased in 1954 for US$2.8 million, equivalent to US ${{Formatprice\|{{Inflation\|US\|2800000\|1954\|r=0}}}} in {{Inflation-year\|US}} dollars), have been added to the park to bring the total area to over {{convert\|6400\|acre\|ha}}. The North Grove contains about 100 mature giant sequoias; the South Grove, about 1,000.<ref name="CBTSP"/> The state park now encompasses {{convert\|6498\|acre\|ha}} in [[Calaveras County, California\|Calaveras]] and [[Tuolumne County, California\|Tuolumne]] counties.<ref>{{cite web \| title = California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10 \| url = https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/795/files/09-10%20statistical%20report%20final%20online.pdf \| publisher = California State Parks \| page = 18 \| access-date = October 29, 2011}}</ref><ref name="CBTSP">{{cite web \|url=https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551 \|title=Calaveras Big Trees State Park \|access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>

	===Fire management===		===Fire management===
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	The '''South Grove''' also included several noteworthy giant sequoias:		The '''South Grove''' also included several noteworthy giant sequoias:
	*[[Louis Agassiz (tree)\|Louis Agassiz]]: the largest living tree of the Calaveras groves measuring {{convert\|250\|ft\|m}} tall and more than {{convert\|25\|ft\|m}} in diameter {{convert\|6\|ft\|m}} above ground.<ref>{{cite web \| title = How Big are Big Trees? \| url = ~~http~~://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1146 \| publisher = California State Parks \| access-date = October 29, 2011}}</ref> It is the [[List of largest giant sequoias\|37th largest giant sequoia]] in the world, and could be considered either the 36th or 35th largest depending on how badly [[Ishi Giant]] and Black Mountain Beauty have atrophied following devastating wildfires in [[Rough Fire\|2015]] and [[Pier Fire\|2017]], respectively.		*[[Louis Agassiz (tree)\|Louis Agassiz]]: the largest living tree of the Calaveras groves measuring {{convert\|250\|ft\|m}} tall and more than {{convert\|25\|ft\|m}} in diameter {{convert\|6\|ft\|m}} above ground.<ref>{{cite web \| title = How Big are Big Trees? \| url = https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1146 \| publisher = California State Parks \| access-date = October 29, 2011}}</ref> It is the [[List of largest giant sequoias\|37th largest giant sequoia]] in the world, and could be considered either the 36th or 35th largest depending on how badly [[Ishi Giant]] and Black Mountain Beauty have atrophied following devastating wildfires in [[Rough Fire\|2015]] and [[Pier Fire\|2017]], respectively.
	*Palace Hotel Tree: the second largest living tree of the Calaveras groves; features a large deep burn scar at its base that one can walk into. This tree has nails burned into its inner trunk by past travelers.		*Palace Hotel Tree: the second largest living tree of the Calaveras groves; features a large deep burn scar at its base that one can walk into. This tree has nails burned into its inner trunk by past travelers.

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	==External links==		==External links==
	* {{commons-inline}}		* {{commons-inline}}
	* [~~http~~://www.parks.ca.gov/~~default.asp~~?page_id=551 Calaveras Big Trees State Park]		* [https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551 Calaveras Big Trees State Park]
	* [http://www.bigtrees.org/ Calaveras Big Trees Association]		* [http://www.bigtrees.org/ Calaveras Big Trees Association]
	* {{cite web \|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a28088/ \|title=The Pioneer's Cabin and Pluto's Chimney - Big Tree Grove, Calaveras County - B&W Film Copy Neg. \|format=Albumen Photograph \|publisher=Library of Congress \|year=1866 \|access-date=January 9, 2017}}		* {{cite web \|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a28088/ \|title=The Pioneer's Cabin and Pluto's Chimney - Big Tree Grove, Calaveras County - B&W Film Copy Neg. \|format=Albumen Photograph \|publisher=Library of Congress \|year=1866 \|access-date=January 9, 2017}}