The giant sequoia : An account of the history and characteristics of the big…
QR code
"The giant sequoia : An account of the history and characteristics of the big…." by Rodney Sydes Ellsworth is a natural history and historical account written in the early 20th century. It blends science, travelogue, and advocacy to explain the giant sequoia and coast redwood—their deep antiquity, form, range, and the human history entwined with them, especially in the Mariposa Grove. Readers can expect vivid portraits of famous trees, clear distinctions between
the two Sequoia species, accounts of the Sierra Nevada’s making, and a strong conservation message about threats, vandalism, and protection. The opening of this work sets out a popular-yet-faithful synthesis of scientific and literary sources, then traces the sequoia’s fossil-deep lineage, its survival through volcanic cataclysms and glaciations, and its present restriction to California’s coast and Sierra belts. It contrasts the coast redwood’s soaring height and immense timber yields with the giant sequoia’s unmatched girth and longevity, and maps their modern groves—highlighting the Mariposa and the vast southern forests like the Giant Forest. A substantial section recounts Galen Clark’s life: his discovery and early guiding at Wawona, the building of trails and roads, the 1864 Yosemite and Mariposa Grove grant, his long guardianship, fire protection and brush clearing, and the criticism and praise that followed, ending with the commissioners’ formal tribute. The narrative then tours the Mariposa Grove itself—its easy access, compact grandeur, and named specimens (such as the Grizzly Giant, the exceptionally tall Mark Twain Tree, and the symmetrically flawless Alabama Tree)—while explaining fire scars, hollow “chimney” trunks, and great fallen logs like the Fallen Monarch. It condemns wasteful lumbering and exhibition vandalism in other groves but notes that Mariposa was spared, aside from the famous vehicle passages cut through the Wawona and California trees. The section closes with emblematic scenes like the intertwined “Faithful Couple” and the glowing “Sun Worshippers,” underscoring the grove’s majesty and the case for its preservation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Upload it on the Amazon site your Kindle is registered with: amazon.com/sendtokindle for the US, amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle for the UK etc.
- It appears on your Kindle and in the Kindle app
Kobo, Nook etc. → Transfer via USB
- Download the EPUB3 file on your computer
- Connect your e-reader by USB and tap "Connect" on its screen
- Drag the file onto the e-reader drive
Phone, Tablet or Computer → Online or Reading App
Easiest: read online in your browser. Nothing to install.
Or use a reading app:
- Find and install one you like, for example Apple Books, ReadEra or Thorium Reader
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Open it in the app
More help: iPhone / iPad · Android · Computer
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Ellsworth, Rodney Sydes, 1898-1981 |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Hoyt, H. S. (Herman Simeon), 1868-1961 |
| Photographer | Pillsbury, Arthur C. (Arthur Clarence), 1870-1946 |
| LoC No. | 24015300 |
| Title | The giant sequoia : An account of the history and characteristics of the big trees of California |
| Original Publication | Oakland: J. D. Berger, 1924. |
| Credits | Sean/AB, Robert Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 60.0 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | SD: Agriculture: Forestry |
| Subject | Giant sequoia |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 76616 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-76616-4 |
| Release Date | Aug 2, 2025 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 542 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!