Why California Razed it's Ancient Redwood Forests

The history of California's lost redwood forests is a poignant tale of environmental transformation and exploitation. Before the mid-19th century, vast expanses of ancient redwood groves blanketed the coastal regions of northern California, creating awe-inspiring landscapes with towering trees that stood for thousands of years. However, the Gold Rush of 1849 triggered an influx of settlers, leading to widespread logging and clearing of these majestic forests to meet the demands for timber and land. The once-spectacular redwood ecosystems, with trees reaching heights of over 300 feet, were decimated by the logging industry. Despite conservation efforts in the 20th century, a significant portion of California's original redwood forests is forever lost, serving as a reminder of the delicate balance between human progress and the preservation of natural wonders. Today, the remaining redwood groves, such as those in Redwood National and State Parks, stand as living monuments to the resilience of these ancient giants and the ongoing commitment to their conservation.

IT’S HISTORY - Weekly Tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

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Editor - Karolina Szwata
Host - Ryan Socash
Music/Sound Design: Dave Daddario

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Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[FriendlyBear]

I've stood under some red woods before and the size and scale is unimaginable until you are there.

[billybussey]

I am from Northern California. There were smaller redwoods in my backyard growing up. Great video. I suggest everyone go see those trees at least once in your life.

[richierugs]

When you're around these giants they really seem like entities rather than just all trees.

[freetolook]

Back in the mid 1970's as I was traveling through northern California, we passed truck after truck after truck loaded with redwoods.
It's funny here in The Great Industrial Northeast, a truck can load twenty or thirty pine logs but those trucks had a maximum of four logs per trailer.
And the worst part was that the loggers left a quarter mile of redwoods alongside roads untouched to give the impression that the redwood forests were untouched. Meanwhile, behind the facsade, the forests were being clear cutted.

[archstanton_live]

The pictures resemble those from the early times of whalers. As a child in the early 60's I recall seeing logging trucks on 101 with only one huge log on them. When one enters an old house with redwood (or even fir) trim the grain is so amazingly tight. You can't find wood of that quality on the market today, let alone trim or frame a whole house from it. Recycled/repurposed redwood from old houses, barns and water tanks from that period, is incredibly valuable, even with a few old, corroded nail holes. It is easily recognizable by its tight grain. Sure, you can still buy "redwood." But redwood trees need hundreds and (thousands) of years to produce high quality wood that was cut in the 19th and early 20th centuries. I am very thankful that at least a few of the matriarchs have been preserved.

[denniss]

In the 70"s I worked at Fort Ord in California dismantling old buildings... The WWII barracks were all sided with redwood. Hundreds of buildings all covered with that material.

[marcomcdowell]

Glad that at a point in time, someone thought outside of the box and petitioned to save what could be saved, before everything was chopped down.

[driley]

The redwood forests were cut down to build towns that were later largely bulldozed to make room for highways and parking lots.

[stevedolan]

My first camping trip as a child in the early 1950’s, was to Jedidiah Smith state park. It was an overwhelming experience. I will always treasure those memories. In about 1990 I went back to the park, this time in a RV. The park looked pretty much the same. I was able to find the very campsite we had used on that first trip. The Redwoods are majestic and spiritual in nature. I really encourage anyone who can, experience them. Great video!

[davestambaugh]

I just recently built a mandolin. For the soundboard instead of using the usual sitka spruce I used redwood that was salvaged from the bottom of the American river for what I would imagine to be over a hundred years. The average width of the growth rings is about twenty thousands of an inch and the board was six inches wide showing two hundred and fifty years!

[joeottsoulbikes]

My former mother in law has a house in Truckee CA. She has a Redwood in her front yard. In fact it is the tallest redwood not only in Truckee but the tallest redwood on North Lake at 278ft as of 2018 when last measured. She had to build a three car parking carport with steel framing and three layers of corregated steel roof for her car and visitors. The pine cones that fall off of Nancy are 8 to 12 inches in diameter.

[ciuyr]

Company man i know, chopped off a red tree that was in his way of creating a farming field for his business to grow weed In California. Investigator called at the site started to cry; slapped him with a 200k fine & full protection for the other trees. Totally bonked.

[FatMamaVlogs]

I recently went to the second largest Douglas fur tree in Canada. Big Lonely Doug is his name. It would have been amazing to see the Island before they cut down almost all the old growth. Standing in front of Doug was quite the memory to make with my kids.

[jetsons]

To anyone even thinking visiting any of the Redwood Foriest it is well worth the time and money, please take your time and get out of your car and walk among the Another great watch from Ryan and It's

[shanechostetler]

Most of our trips from Washington to So. California are down the coast road, 101. We always stop several times going through the Redwoods, it’s just awe inspiring.

[yolo_burrito]

Florida and Georgia used to have old growth cypress stands that were razed for ship building back in the 17th century.

[ricksrealpitbbq]

As a woodworker I love this kind of history. Love you videos 👍

[jesssimpson]

My wife and I try to make it to the coastal redwoods every year, most people visit in the summer but we love to visit in late fall or winter, the crowds are gone and the redwoods are absolutely enchanting when it’s rainy and foggy. We’re older and are kids have been raised for years so we don’t have to schedule our vacations around school schedules so that helps.

[Coolness]

It’s maddening to see what happened to the old growth forests across the United States….. Thankfully what was left uncut is protected and preserved. Here on the East Coast many wilderness areas were logged out and never recovered. 🤨

[davelester]

Same with the great White Pines in Michigan--rebuilt Chicago, but only 155 acres left.