Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Description

On September 25, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation establishing America's second national park, Sequoia. Created to protect the giant sequoia trees from logging, Sequoia National Park was the first national park formed to protect a living organism: Sequoiadendron giganteum. One week later, General Grant National Park was created and Sequoia was enlarged. In 1943 Kings Canyon National Park was made and absorbed General Grant National Park.
The two parks are managed jointly under one superintendent and protect a vast amount wilderness- nearly 900,000 acres! Volunteers help to protect these parks as do the rangers. Nearly 2 million visitors come to the parks each year and it's likely these numbers will continue to rise as people long for wild places and reconnecting with nature.