King Sequoia: The Tree that Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We Think about Nature [B1775]

2016 PB in excellent condition. A naturist and historian for the National Parks Service offers a lively history of the giant sequoias of California and the love of nature they inspired. Former park ranger William C. Tweed takes readers on a tour of some of the world's largest and oldest trees in a narrative that travels deep into the Sierra Nevada mountains, across the American West, and all the way to New Zealand. Along the way, he explores the American public's evolving relationship with sequoias, also known simply and affectionately as Big Trees.

It's no surprise that the sequoia groves of Yosemite and Calaveras were early tourist destinations. The species was the embodiment of California's superlative appeal. These giant redwoods were so beloved that special protections efforts sprang up to protect them from logging interests-and so began the notion of National Parks. Later, as science evolved to consider landscapes more holistically, sequoias once again played a major role in shaping this new perspective. Featuring a fascinating cast of adventurers, researchers, politicians, and environmentalists, King Sequoia reveals how one tree species transformed Americans' connection to the natural world.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "A fascinating body of work that encompasses our Sequoia's and our trees throughout the US. This has the history of logging which is heartbreaking and the movement to create our parks to protect our trees . A must read for everyone who loves and appreciates trees."; "An enjoyable read. Learned so much about the establishment of the national park system -- the fact that Yellowstone was supposed to be the SINGLE national park blew my mind. A bit dry at times, but overall interesting and informative."; "Powerful and a great read. A pleasure to learn the history."