By Matthew Fortuna
The History of Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park in Northern California is among the great national parks of the northwestern
United States. Stretching across 130,000 acres of Northern California, the park is home to the massive redwood forests that make up some of the largest species of trees on earth. The park houses and protects the enormous trees as well as various other species that are exclusive to that part of the country and the world.
Early History
Thousands of years ago, the area that is today Redwood National Park was inhabited by various tribes of Native Americans.
1800s
With the emergence of gold prospectors and other Americans in Northern California in the mid-1800s, the Native American tribes became depleted, and more Americans began to take notice of the natural wonders of the area.
Early 1900s
Citizens of California and politicians first began to lobby Congress for protection of the redwoods in 1911, beginning with U.S. Representative John Raker.
Save-the-Redwoods League
The Save-the-Redwoods League was able to establish three state parks in the redwood forests, preserving the area from the oncoming construction of U.S. Route 101.
Mid-1900s
After the need for lumber declined with the end of World War II, the National Geographic Society and the Sierra Club began lobbying Congress for legislation to protect the area.
Redwood National Park
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill establishing Redwood National Park as a national site on October 2, 1968.
World Recognition
The park was recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site on September 5, 1980, because of its prehistoric significance and its archaeological importance.
About the Author:
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State University.
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