SIZE MATTERS

Visitors remain fascinated with measuring the size of the great redwoods. This list of tree measurements is the reverse side of a postcard featuring the Clubhouse at Cowell's Big Trees, managed by Milo Hopkins. Despite such available lists, many early tourists still came equipped with either a tape measure or a ball of twine.

"It is amusing to see the incredulous tourist, who strongly suspects that he has been listening to or reading a 'California yarn,' as he approaches this wonderful group, tape measure in hand, determined that there shall be 'no foolishness' about the measurements he takes. He measures, he stands afar off and tries to look at the top, he paces around its base, he disposes the members of his party, if there be enough of them, in such a way that, with arms outstretched and finger tips just touching, they embrace the huge circumference and finds that it takes 18 or 19 wellgrown human beings to encircle it, then he brings out his tape measure again, and—at last—he believes."
                                                            From Santa Cruz County: Resources, Advantages, Objects of Interest, 1887
                                                            by Isabel Hammel Raymond - Author's Personal Collection

This list also displays the long-time tradition of bestowing individual tree names. To date there are over one hundred known named trees in Big Trees Grove. Unfortunately, we know the location of only about a third of them.

Please respect the fences which now protect the giant redwoods and stay on designated trails only and do not climb the trees or their delicate roots. Thank you.