WHAT'S IN A NAME?

“The identity of this beautiful and historical spot is lost in some instances in published articles by its early visitors…because of not having been given a singular title.…Anyone or any group going to the Big Trees by foot, horse or train—this was the place, no further explanation was necessary.” 

— Phyllis Patten, Santa Cruz Sentinel,

January 11, 1959

Ms. Patten was correct. Here are the names known so far that were given to the grove since explorer John Charles Frémont first visited in 1846: 

 

Fremont's Saplings

Fremont Grove/Fremont's Grove

Big Trees

Welch Grove/Welch's Grove

Big Trees Grove/Big Tree Grove

Welch’s Big Trees

Felton Big Tree Grove

Giant Grove

Santa Cruz Grove

Santa Cruz Big Trees

Felton Grove

The Welch family’s neighboring resort (established in 1902) which was managed by Milo Hopkins was also known by several different names:

Cowell’s Big Trees

Cowell's Clubhouse

Hopkins’ Grove

Hopkins’ Big Trees

Cowell Grove

Hopkins' Cafe

In 1930 when the Welch family sold their resort to Santa Cruz County, the grove became known as Santa Cruz County Big Trees Park. In 1954 when Samuel “Harry” Cowell donated 1,623 acres of his family’s adjacent land, including site of the former Cowell’s Big Trees resort, the grove attained its current moniker, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Postcards from the Scott Peden Collection