Origins of the Park
Although many of the redwoods in Big Basin have seen 1500 summers or more, they have had human visits for less than 1000 years. Native Americans most likely did not inhabit the forests and basins, but traveled through them during trips to the sea or to the interior valleys. Native Americans regarded redwood trees with a great deal of respect and religious superstition; to live among these trees could be compared to us living in a cathedral or synagogue. Another major deterrent to Indian settlement was that grizzly bears resided in the forested areas of Big Basin. Not wishing to risk life or limb, the Indians settled outside the basin areas. Evidence of the abundance of tan oak acorns and other fruits and berries, and of small game would suggest that the Indians visited here fairly frequently to gather food.

In 1769 the Europeans "discovered" the redwoods. In October of that year, the Portola expedition, which had been exploring on the coast of California, first noted the redwood or "Palo Colorado" about forty miles south of Big Basin. The Spaniards declared them to be the "thickest, tallest, and straightest trees they had ever seen." On October 20, 1769, the party camped at the mouth of the present-day Waddell Creek. Many of the group had been ill, but by the end of their stay, all had miraculously recovered. They named the valley "Canada de la Salud," (Canyon of Health), and it is now known as the Rancho del Oso section of Big Basin State Park.

A Source of Lumber

The Santa Cruz Mountains remained relatively unchanged from the time of the Portola expedition until the Gold Rush, which created both an increasing demand for lumber and an interest in the standing timber in the region. In 1862, William Waddell established a lumber mill at the confluence of the east and west fork of Waddell Creek in the valley once called "La Salud." By 1884, there were twenty-eight sawmills in the Big Basin-San Lorenzo Valley region, cutting 34,000,000 board feet of lumber per year, plus vast quantities of shingles, shakes, posts, railroad ties and cord wood. While timber companies were working their way up to Big Basin, tan oak bark strippers were already at work there. One ambitious bark stripper took as much as 2000 cords of tan bark a year out of the Basin down to the tannery in Santa Cruz. The tannin extracted from the bark was an essential ingredient in the leather tanning process.

One of these bark strippers actually homesteaded inside Big Basin. Tom Maddock moved his wife and children into the Basin in 1877 and in 1882 filed a homestead claim to the land. Maddock obtained 160 acres of virgin redwood forest for the filing fee of $7.50. From a single tree he and his 11-year old son built a cabin which the family lived in for several years with little or no regular contact with the outside world. Maddock continued to work stripping bark, leaving his wife and oldest son to hunt, gather fish and fend off the ever-present grizzly bears. The family moved into civilization before the Basin became a park, but the site of their cabin may still be seen.

Redwood Preservation Efforts
By 1889 California redwood trees were internationally famous. In that year, an English publication hired Andrew P. Hill, a San Jose artist, photographer, and writer, to do a story on the huge redwoods of the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains. Hill packed his equipment in a trunk and traveled by narrow gauge railway over the summit and down to Big Trees Station just outside of Felton. There he found the perfect subjects for his magazine article, magnificent virgin redwoods, with some approaching 300 feet in height. He had hardly set up his camera when the owner of the grove, Joseph Welch, chased him off. Welch did not want commercial photographs taken of his trees unless he received payment. Angered by the confrontation, Hill went back to San Jose without any pictures to accompany his article. Hill thought it unjust that these beautiful redwoods were not available for everyone to experience.
On his next trip to the Santa Cruz Mountains, Andrew Hill avoided Welch's grove and went deeper into the back country to the Big Basin area. There he photographed extensively and became so inspired by the ancient majesty of the trees that he and his friends formed the Sempervirens Club. The members dedicated their organization to the preservation of redwood trees for all to enjoy. They attracted wealthy and influential people who raised funds and convinced legislators to purchase Big Basin and establish California's first state park.

California's First State Park
In 1902, the state purchased 2500 acres of virgin redwood from the Big Basin Lumber Company, and its owner, H.L. Middleton, donated an additional 1300 acres of surrounding land. A warden, J.H.B. Pilkington of Boulder Creek, was appointed and preparations were made to open the new California Redwood Park to the public. But in September 1904, a fire broke out at a sawmill near Waterman Gap and by the time it was extinguished ten days later, it had burned throughout the entire new park, except the present Redwood Trail area. It would take until 1911 for the park to completely recover.

In 1927, the California legislature created the State Park System and the park was renamed Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The 1920's, 30's, 40's and 50's could be considered quiet years for Big Basin. There was a small resort in the current headquarters area, then called Governor's Camp. The Big Basin Inn offered accommodations in nearby cabins, a restaurant, gas station, photographic studio, barber shop, and a general store. There were swimming and boating areas, a post office, tennis courts and a dance floor. Campsites could be rented for 50 cents in 1927. During the 1930's, the Civilian Conservation Corps had a company assigned to Big Basin. The CCC constructed many of the park buildings, facilities, and trails during this time. The automobile became a popular means of travel and visitation increased tremendously. By 1955, Big Basin State Park had grown to triple its original size, encompassing 10,000 acres.

More Developer Threats
In 1968, developers were poised on Mt. McAbee, the geographic center of the park. The landowners offered 320 acres to the state, but unfortunately the state was financially unable to meet their terms. A development was planned whose entrance road would pass through a camp-ground. The Sempervirens Club had become inactive so a new group, led by conservationist Claude A. "Tony" Look and photographer Howard King, organized themselves as the Sempervirens Fund. Their �May Day Campaign� was successful not only in saving the threatened Mt. McAbee, but in establishing a conservation group which has become instrumental in securing endangered parcels for parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Through the untiring efforts of the Sempervirens Fund, generous donations by the Save-the-Redwoods League and matching state funds, Big Basin Redwoods State Park has grown to over 19,000 acres, preserving some of the most pristine virgin redwoods in the world.

Currently the Sempervirens Fund, working closely with the Department of Parks and Recreation, is focused on acquisition of the remaining privately held parcels. Securing the complete watershed of the Big Basin will insure the park's integrity and guarantee its preservation not only for the present, but also for the future.