Explore the Eras
Established in 1902, Big Basin Redwoods State Park marked the beginning of the preservation and conservation movement in California and served as a model for hundreds more CA State Parks known today.
Entrance of the California Redwood Park (1915) by California State Parks and Andrew Putnam HillCyArk
Park Establishment 1890-1920
"A group of people were recognizing how close the loggers were getting. They had an idea of starting a club, the 'Sempervirens club'."
Natural Swimming Hole Opal Creek by California State ParksCyArk
The "Heyday" of 1920-1940
"As more and more people came and stayed for three months, they needed recreation other than just walking in the forest."
Naturalists-Park Supervisors Conference, Headquarters Building (1961-06-21) by California State Parks and Burgess W. HeacoxCyArk
The Nature Movement of the 1950s-1960s
"To be Preserved in its State of Nature."
Travel through Time at Park Headquarters Sites
Auto Tree CM107043 (1)CyArk
Most Popular: Auto tree
"It's a double tree that had been hollowed out through many different fires."
Auto Tree Visitors (1915) by California State Parks and Andrew Putnam HillCyArk
Visitors in the Auto Tree
1915
Auto Tree Visitors (1915) by California State Parks and Andrew Putnam HillCyArk
Sempervirens Club
1915
Bicyclists peering inside the Auto Tree (1952-07-12) by California State Parks and John ShrawderCyArk
Cyclists Recreating at the Auto Tree
1952
Wedding party at the Auto Tree (2013-11-30) by California State ParksCyArk
Marriage Celebration
2013
Auto Tree during CZU Lightning Complex Fire (2020-08) by Alex TaboneCyArk
Auto Tree during the CZU Fire
2020
Auto TreeCyArk
Six months after the CZU Fire
2021
Park Ranger Headquarters (1959) by California State Parks and R. RoesslerCyArk
Headquarters through Time
"It was built in what we call the 'parkitecture.'"
Administration Building (1936) by California State ParksCyArk
1930
Park Headquarters (1952-07-11) by California State Parks and John ShrawderCyArk
1952
Al Calais in front of the Headquarters Building (1960-05-26) by California State Parks and Leo CrawfordCyArk
1960
Naturalists-Park Supervisors Conference, Headquarters Building (1961-06-21) by California State Parks and Burgess W. HeacoxCyArk
1960
Big Basin Redwood State Park Headquarters Interior (2010-02-02) by California State Parks and John PalmerCyArk
2010
Big Basin Visitor Center (2019-05-29) by California State Parks and Brian BaerCyArk
2019
Headquarters After the Fire (2020-09-17) by Daniel MekisCyArk
September 2020
Big Basin Visitor's Center and Auto Tree by CyArkCyArk
See the Impacts - Envision a Future
Observe the impacts of the CZU fire on the park's built cultural heritage captured in 3D in April of 2021.
Former Headquarters Fireplace
Headquarters Restrooms
Auto Tree
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