Introduction
The past development of the United States (U.S) has been characterized conflicting interests. This is due to the nation’s extensive resources coupled with the ever-increasing needs of the populace. No better period exemplifies this but at the beginning of the 20 th Century. Driven by the global movement towards industrialization, the countries consumption of its natural resources was unprecedented. This resulted in a rise in conflicting voices, some of which questioned the sustainability of the ongoing efforts. Thus, the rising capitalism gave impetus to the emergence of both conservationists and preservationists. As a result, politics, as we know it was changed as new schools of thought, were born. Consequently, public discourse was shaped by proponents of the different factions with the goal of raising public consciousness. 1 With the growing urbanization, there were concerns that the emphasis on industrial capitalism was giving rise to dependence on material prosperity. For instance, there was increased urbanization, which changed the peoples’ attitudes towards nature. 2 Due to their physical and psychological withdrawal, the middle class residing in the urban and suburban areas developed a sentimental view of nature . In contrast, the same people could not resist exploiting the same nature in support of the luxurious lifestyles. This paper seeks to expound on the transformation of the American landscape and its conceptualization in the wake the conflicting social-economic, political, cultural and environmental interests. A notable feature in regard to this discourse is the development of The Big Basin Redwoods State Park , which will be specifically explored .
The most iconic persons in the debate on the utilization of resources in the U.S were John Muir and Gifford Pinchot. Muir advocated for the preservation of the American wilderness. This was for the purposes of spiritual renewal, in locations that were far from the bustle of the emerging urban life. On the other hand, Pinchot emphasized the need for conservation of the resources (which he thought were unlimited) for their industrial use and subsequent growth of the nation. 3 In line with Muir’s calls, the earliest preservation efforts were inspired by both the coast redwood and Sierra redwood. 4 One location where these plants were in plenty is Santa Cruz Mountains, in California. Therefore the conservation movement in the U.S has roots in Big Basin California. However, the activities that gave impetus to this dated far before the start of the industrial revolution.
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Redwood exploitation in California and its role in the establishment of The Big Basin Redwood State Park
Since the early 1830s, the California region attracted foreign Euro-Americans whose primary objective was to harvest timber. However, following California’s independence destruction of the redwood forest became rampant. For instance, by the 1880s, Big Basin was occupied by twenty-eight sawmills which were used to produce massive quantities of shingles, posts, railroads ties and board-feet each year. This much was fueled by the intensifying industrial revolution . The first cry for the need to conserve the Big Basin area and stop the wanton destruction of the redwoods was initiated by Sydney Smith, the editor of Redwood City Times & Gazette . This was the first step towards the creation of a movement advocating for the saving of the coastal redwoods of California. However, owing to the demand for timber and the implications of his calls, Smith was murdered ten years later. However, his vision was taken by other individual’s, who like Muir were keen on ensuring that conservation resource in the U.S prevailed.
Consequently, in the year 1896, the Sierra Club began to focus its efforts on The Big Basin. This club had been formed by Andrew Putman Hill in 1892 to conserve the Yosemite. On noting the ecological potential of the basin Hill started to advocate for conservation of the redwood trees. To help gain political, social and economic credibility, Hill brought together several influential leaders at Stanford University. Some of the people that he assembled included journalists, artists, business leaders, academicians, writers, editors and politicians. This led to the formation of Sempervirens Club . In the following year, George Fisk, who was associated with the Sempervirens Club and a member of California State Assembly introduced a motion that was initially authored by the club. The motion wanted the state government to establish a state park at Big Basin. This motion was subsequently passed in the year 1902, paving the way for the establishment of the oldest and the first state park in California.
In response, state of California officially purchased the Big Basin area after lengthy discussions with the Big Basin Lumber Company. On purchase, the Redwood Park Commission was established through legislation. The Commission acquired additional 3900 acres of state property, which included about fifty percent of the Waddell Creek Basin into the park in 1908. Immediately after the purchase, the commission started to construct paths for accessing areas of the park. For instance, the Saratoga-Big Basin access road was opened in the month of May 1915. This coincided with the period visitors were streaming in for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition that was happening in San Francisco. Two years later, the commission was notified of plans to establish a new sawmill. Agitated by this, the Commission advocated for the support of motion that asked for the purchase of more land for the park. After passing of that bill, the size of the park increased to more than nine thousand acres. By this time, campsites were growing within the park. In his response to the ever-growing fame of the State Park the park warden, William Dool, established new campgrounds. The new campsites included centers Campfire Girls, Scouts, and the YWCA.
Following Hill’s death in 1922, the organization proceeded with the quest to get more land for conservation of the redwoods in Big Basin, and also promoted other conservation efforts, especially the development of recreation parks in every state . In 1928, Save the Redwoods League secretary assisted in developing the State Park Commission. He also launched a statewide park survey and helped to publish the state park bond bill. It was during this same year that the California Redwood Park was renamed Big Basin Redwoods State Park .
The historical importance of the Californian Redwood Forests
Archaeologists have proven that people had inhabited the Californian redwood forest for a long time. For more than ten thousand years, this zone is known to have been occupied by humans. Before the settlement of the explorers from Europe, the territory was inhabited by the Cotoni , Sayante , Quiroste, and Achistaca, who are the main tribes of the Ohlone people. These tribes, who were mainly hunters and gatherers, depended a lot on the local redwood forest for their daily upkeep and social needs. 5 However, the majority of the Ohlone people died due to the prevalent diseases in the woods and violence brought by the Spanish Missioners. Likewise, it is believed that the California Indians would get materials for basketry, cultural and religious rites, and also for food from the forest.
In 1769, land explorers from Europe settled and camped in the redwoods located in the south of Santa Cruz County. Their particular settlement was established at Waddell Creek, which is the current location of the Big Basin Redwoods State Park . The forest was rich with berries and the settlers who suffered from scurvy found healing in this. Consequently, they named the valley ‘ Canyon of Health. ’ The thriving redwoods in the Big Basin became a refuge for the Ohlone Indians at the time of occupation by the first European explorers. It is these new inhabitants that initiated the wanton destruction of the forest. This led to the subsequent need for to conservation the redwoods, which is the genesis for the establishment of the Big Basin Redwoods State Park .
Development of the Big Basin Redwoods State Park and its Impact on the Californian Landscape
The initial steps in the development of The Big Basin Redwoods State Park took place immediately after purchase of the land in 1908. This was done by the construction of access that would allow entry into the park. Saratoga-Big Basin was the first access road, and its construction was completed in 1915. Its construction followed the most accessible locations of the forest. However, the emphasis was also placed on the minimal destruction of the forest’s initial landscape. Besides, access roads, camping sites were opened up so at to encourage visitors to the park to experience the beauty of the park. As more and more people got interested, more camps were opened . Therefore, the gradual development of the park was driven by demand for recreation. For instance, the establishment of Campfire Girls, Scouts, and the YWCA was informed by the need to meet the rising demand.
Despite these efforts, the most significant changes to the park’s landscape were done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930’s. This program was initiated in 1933 and was among the pioneering New Deal Programs. It was established through legislation, particularly from the efforts of President Franklin Roosevelt. Soon after inauguration, the president sent a bill to the Congress to address and reduce the rising unemployment in the U.S. This was caused by the Great Depression in the 1930s and resulted in increased crime rates amongst other social ills. Simultaneously, Dust Bowl, the menacing drought had just begun . To address these disasters, President Roosevelt proposed the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps . This program would not only address the widespread financial challenges but also support the much-needed conservation efforts. Consequently, the CCC recruited more than two hundred thousand workers in less than two months. The CCC’s Workforce included both unskilled and skilled laborers. The unskilled persons worked under the supervision of their skilled counterparts, which included landscape architects, engineers among other professionals. Since CCC was a government-supported initiative, support was given to this group through the departments of Labor, War, and Agriculture. These departments were responsible for recruitment, training, and management of the program respectively. 6 The formation of CCC resulted in an era of expansive establishment of public recreation centers in the U.S.
The development of the Big Basin Redwoods state park began in 1933. The CCC was responsible for constructing the Big Basin Headquarters administration blocks and the outdoor theater . The construction entailed preserving the park’s natural feel, but also enhancing its aesthetic beauty. For instance, a stage and a circular campfire were incorporate into the outdoor theater . The benches, on the other hand, were styled from cut logs. 7 The CCC also constructed the Nature Museum and Store , as well as the Nature Lodge . Moreover, the group built roads, trail networks, camp centers, wardens’ residences, working sheds, garages among other facilities. In the construction of these facilities , care was taken to not only promote the functionality of the park but also to enhance its aesthetic beauty. All the buildings in the park were designed using the Park Rustic architectural style and constructed using locally available materials. This was aimed at ensuring that the costs incurred were minimal. Moreover, by using locally available materials, the development of the park ensured that there was minimal pollution as well as damage to the landscape. Besides developing the park, CCC re-established the forest in a massive reforestation drive. This resulted in the planting of millions of trees in the park. Undoubtedly, this was significant in the restoration of the forest and replacement of the millions of trees previously felled .
The development of the Big Basin Redwoods State Park progressed immediately after the ended of the Second World War. For instance, employee residences we developed at Lower Sky Meadow, while in the 1950s, sewage systems were remodeled and swimming pools constructed. Moreover, there was the development of new landscape features such as the Sempervirens Reservoir. In 1961, the California State acquired four hundred and eighty-eight acres from Big Creek Timber Company . This newly acquired area encompassed Silver Falls, Lower Berry Creek Falls, and the Golden Falls. Additional land was purchased in 1982. The new space was divided into two sub-units which were named: ‘ 23-acre Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve and 5810-acre West Waddel Creek State Wilderness ’ . Recently, more land from ‘ The Peninsula Space Trust and Sempervirens Fund .' Currently, the California State Parks works with various stakeholders including the Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Association, the Waddell Creek Association, Mountain Parks Foundation, among others to preserve and protect the rich history of Big Basin. 8 The success and ingenuity of the architectural design and establishment of the inspired the establishment of more than eight hundred recreation parks across the country.
Against this backdrop, The Big Basin Redwoods State Park was developed in a bid to resolve a multifaceted set of problems. These were social-economic (The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl famine), environmental (massive forest destruction through harvesting of the redwoods). Moreover, the fact that President Roosevelt was in support of the establishment ensured that there was enough political goodwill to implement the project to the end. The rising middle class also influenced the development of the park. This is because, with increased economic success, there was increased demand and affordability of recreation. Consequently, the urban dwellers found pursued recreation as means of escaping the busy city. Therefore, the development of the park helped shape the culture of both the urban and suburban populace. Likewise, the modifications made in a bid to ensure the comfort of would-be visitors significantly enhanced the landscape of the countryside and changed the peoples’ view of the wilderness.
The Big Basin Redwoods State Park at a Glance
Currently, The Big Basin Redwoods State Park spans more than 18000 acres of traditional, ancient, and natural resources. Located in the modern-day San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, this recreation facility occupies the Mountains of Santa Cruz, extending to the Pacific shores. 9 Encompassed within the park are the creeks of Ana Nuevo and Waddell. It is also located 63 miles from San Francisco and about 22 miles from Santa Cruz city. It can be accessed from the east through Highways 9 and 236, and Highway 1 from the west. State Route 1 can be used to get to the coastal end of the park. 10 The location of the park is shown in Figure 1 below.
F 
igure 1: Location of The Big Basin Redwoods State Park
The park is endowed with mature redwoods whose age is estimated to exceed two millennia. Likewise, it has breathtaking eye-some sceneries including waterfalls and a view of the Pacific coastline. Experiences at the park vary with seasons. Spring is adorned with lush waterfalls and myriads of wild flowers in a somewhat cold and foggy atmosphere. Conversely, in summer, the park is shady and provides one of the coolest places to rest for would be visitors. During winter, green mosses blend well with the diversity of mushrooms and lichens resulting in an attractive scenery . Moreover, the fall provides a friendly atmosphere free from heat and rainstorms. The beauty and character of the park are captured in the pictures below.
The history of The Big Basin Redwoods State Park defies ordinary tales. This is because its establishment was characterized by struggles from various factors. The most prominent among these were environmental, political, economic, and social. However, it is by leveraging these challenges that the park came to be. The Big Basin Redwoods State Park is, therefore, a hallmark of the struggles that were experienced in the history of America. Operations of the park presently originate from the efforts of different stakeholders who are passionate about conservation and public well-being. By walking through the park, visitors enjoy not only the refreshing scenery and natural beauty but also understand the history of various past movements in the U.S. However, the contribution of the state legislation cannot be overemphasized in paving the way for the purchase of land which marked the fast step towards making the Hull’s dream of conserving the redwoods in California a reality.
The structures built in the 1930’s are still intact to date. Therefore, buildings form a unique feature for the park, and this can be used in understanding its history as well as that of architecture in the U.S. Additionally, the history of the struggle for environmental conservation is exemplified by the park’s establishment. This realization gives impetus to some of the ongoing struggles, key among them being climate change. Moreover, the contribution of various professionals provides emphasis on the need for creating synergy in nation building. Further, it indicates the importance of individual roles in the making of a positive change in the society. In conclusion, The Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a place where history, culture, and nature are merged. This can be derived from the old architecture and landscape, camp fires, trails, nature and the rich past. The development of the park took place in the backdrop of conflicting interests, with one faction supporting conservationism and the other capitalism. As a result, politics played a critical role in shaping the discourse towards its establishment. Therefore, the success of the park’s establishment aids in understanding the role of politics, activism, collaboration and legislation in societal transformation. Therefore, the critical role of The Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the development of the U.S as a whole is evident.
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2 Smith, Michael B. "The value of a tree: Public debates of John Muir and Gifford Pinchot." Historian 60, no. 4 (1998): 757-778.
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