EASTERN EXCURSIONISTS

Santa Cruz Daily Surf, September 4, 1897

"The Wheeling presentation party arrived in Santa Cruz at noon, and as we are going to press are enjoying the hospitalities of the city. The day has been an ideal one and the visitors have been enjoying themselves hugely. The committee, took the 10:50 o’clock train and met the West Virginians at Felton. Here the party from Santa Cruz were introduced to all the members of the Southern party, and on the way down to the Big Trees the conversation was lively."

"At the Big Trees the train waited fifteen minutes to allow the tourists to inspect the big redwoods. It was hard work recalling the visitors from the grounds, so much interested were they in the redwood park. Finally all boarded the train again, expressing their satisfaction at having actually seen some of the big redwoods of which the majority had heard in their far-away Southern homes."

This out-of-state visit was becoming more typical of the ones in the 1890s and were a source of consternation to Big Trees Grove manager, Joseph Ball. He was frustrated by Eastern excursionists who only stopped in the grove for fifteen minutes. He preferred the visitors who camped out in the grove since that afforded him more opportunity for making money off them.

Source: “Visitors Pleased,” Santa Cruz Daily Surf, September 4, 1897.