WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
GIANT SEQUOIA TREE
Washington County, Utah
LOCATION
On the east slope of Pine Valley Mountain just in back of the Browse Guard Station.Township: 39S, Range:13W, Section:19, Northeast 1/4
DESCRIPTION
The giant sequoia tree (Species: Sequoia dendron giganteum) is approximately 108 feet tall and 11.25 feet in circumference.This tree is often referred to as a redwood tree, though it is not. They are related, but different. For more information on the difference, click here.
HISTORY
This tree is not native to this area. It was planted as a sapling in 1933-34 by Dr. Walter P. Cottam as part of the Browse Experiment Station. Heber Jones spent a year living at the Cottam home in the 1950s. While there, Dr. Cottam told Heber that he planted a number of Sequoia trees on both sides of Pine Valley Mountain in the 1930s. The only one known to have survived was near the cabin in the Browse area of the mountain.The Forest Service Research Station built the road into the area in 1933 to begin a "Browse" plant study area to determine the use of Browse plants by browsing animals. There were 27 plot fences in the area where they set up control plots. One of the Directors of the Research Station acquired 15 Sequoias to plant in the southwest Utah area. This one was put at the "Browse" Experiment Station.
A fire in 2002 uncovered these plot areas, something that hadn't been found previously due to the dense vegetation.
The tree has been cored numerous times and matches the 1930's time period with its rings.
PHOTOS
WCHS-03198 Doug West with the Giant Sequoia Tree
Other photos on the web:
Bottom part of the tree
Bottom part of the tree
Top part of the tree
Top part of the tree
REFERENCES
Walter P. Cottam and the Sequoia Treeby Heber Jones, December 2016
Giant Sequoia - Dixie National Forest
Webpage by Marian Jacklin, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands
A visit to Southern Utah's giant sequoia
Article and photos by Jud Burkett
The Spectrum, August 25, 2016
History from Horseback: That's Some Tree!
Article by Doug West
Browse day; Pine Valley's Giant Sequoia and abandoned guard station
by Reuben Wadsworth, St. George News, May 17, 2020