Past and Future of Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Travel through history at the Big Basin Redwoods State Park Headquarters

Mother of the Forest (1915) by California State Parks and Andrew Putnam HillCyArk

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

Susan Blake: Park Establishment
00:00

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

Susan Blake: The "Hey Day"
00:00

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

Susan Blake: Nature Movement
00:00

The Nature Movement of the 1950s-1960s

"To be Preserved in its State of Nature."

Redwood Loop (1963-07) by California State Parks and Burgess W. HeacoxCyArk

Travel through Time at Park Headquarters Sites

Auto Tree CM107043 (1)CyArk

Susan Blake: Auto Tree Significance
00:00

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

Susan Blake: Headquarters History
00:00

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

Loading 3D model

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

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Heritage on the Edge
Discover how people around the world are using technology to protect their cultural sites against climate change
View theme
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites