Historic Tales of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - (Landmarks) by Deborah Osterberg (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Visiting the redwoods in nineteenth-century California meant coming to Big Trees Grove, now part of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. This forest of giants in the Santa Cruz Mountains attained fame through the 1846 exploits of explorer John Charles Frémont, whose namesake tree still stands. Saved from the logger's axe by Joseph Warren Welch in 1867, these were the first coastal redwoods preserved for public recreation. As a world-renowned resort for sixty years, Big Trees Grove hosted thousands of visitors--from picnickers to presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt. Join author Deborah Osterberg as she recounts the stories of those first visitors and the awe-inspiring landscape they preserved for future generations.

Review Quotes

Deborah's book sheds light on Big Tree Grove's ground-breaking role and popularity, creating a vivid portrait of the people who promoted, enjoyed, and preserved these famed monarchs.Capitola History- Capitola History

"This year we read an extraordinary book written by an author who lives in Santa Cruz and personally experienced the recent fires in California.Every time we read about a California wildfire we hope and pray that none of the historic and much-loved tourist destinations are involved. One such destination is the Big Trees Grove at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.This historic book by author Deborah Osterberg is an exciting read for people who love the ages-old redwood forests of California. It details the trials and tribulations of great Americans who saved many of these wonderful stands of trees from the loggers' ax -- it wasn't always an easy task."-The 2 Writers

"Deborah has been a docent at Henry Cowell for many years and her 208 page book is jammed backed with history, photos, a list of all the named trees in the grove and an extensive bibliography. This is a must-have for your local history book collection."- Scotts Valley Historical Society