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| Author's Personal Collection |
This is perhaps one
of the most iconic images of Big Trees Grove, but it is often misunderstood. No,
they are not dancing. Though dancing did take place at the grove, in fact, very
close to where this group was assembled.
These visitors were taking part in a very typical Big Trees Grove activity.
"The party then repaired to the 'Giant' and sixteen members of the party encircled that immense tree, joining hands; then swinging free from it they formed in a circle apart on the cleared ground, showing the immense growth of this gigantic tree, and thus were photographed by McKean and Reese."
How better to display to your friends back home the immense size of these forest monarchs?
The group pictured in this image is quite special. Among the circle are famed explorer John Charles Frémont and his family. Frémont is the white-bearded gentleman in a bowler hat facing the camera and standing directly beneath the tree’s distinctive burl. His wife Jessie Benton Frémont, holding the bouquet, is to his left, while his daughter Elizabeth is to his right.
When Frémont paused his scientific expedition in the grove for a few weeks back in the Spring of 1846, he measured this very tree. Isaac Graham, resident of Rancho Zayante, asked the explorer to measure what he believed to be the greatest monarch of his forest. And indeed, it was. Frémont determined its height to be 275 feet. In thanks for the measurement, Graham dedicated the giant as Frémont’s Tree.
This image was taken on May 4, 1888 and commemorated the return of Frémont. By then the grove was a resort known as Big Trees Grove. And the tree the explorer measured back in 1846 and then Graham named in his honor, was by this time known simply as the Giant. Another near-by tree, with a large hollow base, became the new Fremont Tree, thanks to a story that the explorer had camped within it during his earlier expedition.
Another take away from this image is the clear area around the Giant. The resort owners frequently cleared brush to not only “beautify” the grove but also make room for large crowds, especially for their moonlight dances which took place on a dance floor constructed next to the Giant.
Another change since 1888 is the Giant itself. The tree’s prominent burl has now sprouted. But more importantly today the Giant measures just over 275 feet. Yes, just a couple of inches more than when Frémont measured it in 1846. How can that be? Yes, the Giant definitely grew since 1846. Most 19th century observers said it reached 306 feet.* But why today is it so much shorter? The accepted explanation … sometime in the 19th century a storm broke off at least 25 feet of the Giant’s top. If not for that, perhaps the Giant today would be ranked among the tallest of redwoods. Good news! The Giant is still growing.
Another change from the time of this image is … no signs on the trees. The California State Parks no longer allows signs which bear their historical names attached to the redwoods' bark. That's a good thing for the trees. But I believe knowing the trees' historical names is an important part of Big Trees Grove’s ground-breaking history. I have compiled a list of historic tree names which now includes over 100 names. Unfortunately, we don’t know the location of most of the named trees. My new book, Historic Tales of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Big Trees Grove includes both my tree name list and a map showing the location of some of the known named trees along today’s Redwood Loop Trail. Perhaps in the future we can figure out a non-invasive way to let visitors know this history as they stroll along this historic trail.
Another wonderful aspect of this image, especially for me, are the visitors’ fashions. This was also noted in a newspaper article back in 1903.
"Taken 20 years ago, it shows the styles of that period in women’s gowns. The old-fashioned English walking hat is pictured and the modified scoop bonnet the jackets box-plaited in the back, which were the mode in by-gone years, and the looped and draped overskirts and polonaise, which were popular styles through several seasons. The Prince Albert worn by General Fremont, and which was the favorite dress of dignified gentlemen of the past generation, has given way in popularity to the cutaway coat in recent years. This and the suits and hats worn by others of the male contingent of the party do not show as radical a departure in cut and style as do the dresses worn by the ladies."
Even if we did not already know the date of the image, the fashions help pinpoint it. The 1880s was not only the heyday of Big Trees Grove but also of the bustle!
These visitors were taking part in a very typical Big Trees Grove activity.
"The party then repaired to the 'Giant' and sixteen members of the party encircled that immense tree, joining hands; then swinging free from it they formed in a circle apart on the cleared ground, showing the immense growth of this gigantic tree, and thus were photographed by McKean and Reese."
How better to display to your friends back home the immense size of these forest monarchs?
The group pictured in this image is quite special. Among the circle are famed explorer John Charles Frémont and his family. Frémont is the white-bearded gentleman in a bowler hat facing the camera and standing directly beneath the tree’s distinctive burl. His wife Jessie Benton Frémont, holding the bouquet, is to his left, while his daughter Elizabeth is to his right.
When Frémont paused his scientific expedition in the grove for a few weeks back in the Spring of 1846, he measured this very tree. Isaac Graham, resident of Rancho Zayante, asked the explorer to measure what he believed to be the greatest monarch of his forest. And indeed, it was. Frémont determined its height to be 275 feet. In thanks for the measurement, Graham dedicated the giant as Frémont’s Tree.
This image was taken on May 4, 1888 and commemorated the return of Frémont. By then the grove was a resort known as Big Trees Grove. And the tree the explorer measured back in 1846 and then Graham named in his honor, was by this time known simply as the Giant. Another near-by tree, with a large hollow base, became the new Fremont Tree, thanks to a story that the explorer had camped within it during his earlier expedition.
Another take away from this image is the clear area around the Giant. The resort owners frequently cleared brush to not only “beautify” the grove but also make room for large crowds, especially for their moonlight dances which took place on a dance floor constructed next to the Giant.
Another change since 1888 is the Giant itself. The tree’s prominent burl has now sprouted. But more importantly today the Giant measures just over 275 feet. Yes, just a couple of inches more than when Frémont measured it in 1846. How can that be? Yes, the Giant definitely grew since 1846. Most 19th century observers said it reached 306 feet.* But why today is it so much shorter? The accepted explanation … sometime in the 19th century a storm broke off at least 25 feet of the Giant’s top. If not for that, perhaps the Giant today would be ranked among the tallest of redwoods. Good news! The Giant is still growing.
Another change from the time of this image is … no signs on the trees. The California State Parks no longer allows signs which bear their historical names attached to the redwoods' bark. That's a good thing for the trees. But I believe knowing the trees' historical names is an important part of Big Trees Grove’s ground-breaking history. I have compiled a list of historic tree names which now includes over 100 names. Unfortunately, we don’t know the location of most of the named trees. My new book, Historic Tales of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Big Trees Grove includes both my tree name list and a map showing the location of some of the known named trees along today’s Redwood Loop Trail. Perhaps in the future we can figure out a non-invasive way to let visitors know this history as they stroll along this historic trail.
Another wonderful aspect of this image, especially for me, are the visitors’ fashions. This was also noted in a newspaper article back in 1903.
"Taken 20 years ago, it shows the styles of that period in women’s gowns. The old-fashioned English walking hat is pictured and the modified scoop bonnet the jackets box-plaited in the back, which were the mode in by-gone years, and the looped and draped overskirts and polonaise, which were popular styles through several seasons. The Prince Albert worn by General Fremont, and which was the favorite dress of dignified gentlemen of the past generation, has given way in popularity to the cutaway coat in recent years. This and the suits and hats worn by others of the male contingent of the party do not show as radical a departure in cut and style as do the dresses worn by the ladies."
Even if we did not already know the date of the image, the fashions help pinpoint it. The 1880s was not only the heyday of Big Trees Grove but also of the bustle!
* There are many
conflicting accounts of the Giant’s height. Some accounts claim the Giant once
stood 365 feet high.
Source: “Gen. John C.
Fremont at Giant Redwood,” The
Anaconda Standard, [Anaconda, Montana], March 15, 1903.
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