The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/General Grant National Park

GENERAL GRANT NATIONAL PARK, California, located in Tulare and Fresno counties; usually mentioned in connection with Sequoia National Park (q.v.) because, though separated by six miles of mountain and forest, the two are practically the same governmental reservation. The area of the former, the subject of this paragraph, is 2,536 acres and its altitude ranges from 5,250 feet to 7,631 feet. Created primarily (by act of 1 Oct. 1890) for the protection of the General Grant tree, a very beautiful Sequoia Washingtoniana, 264 feet high and 35 feet in diameter at the base, the park has made such substantial progress that its superintendent in 1915 mentioned in his report the hotels, stores, feedyards, post offices, telephone stations and photograph galleries within his jurisdiction. It is situated on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada 46 miles from Sanger. Between that station (on the Southern Pacific Railroad) and the park regular transportation service has been established. The number of visitors was 7,022 in 1915 (1 April to 10 August), of whom 5,019 arrived in automobiles. Mammals native to the parks are the elk, deer, mountain sheep, squirrels, flying squirrels, porcupine, hares, rabbits, bear, wolves, foxes, mountain lion, lynx, ring-tailed cat, raccoon, wolverine, etc. The Sequoia and General Grant parks are homes of both migratory and breeding birds. Owing to the topography of the parks and their varied climatic conditions, birds of both the torrid and frigid zones come to them. There is a constant movement of the birds north and south and from the high mountains to the lower and from the lowlands to the higher elevations; in all, 194 species have been observed, including plover, grouse, partridges, pheasants, wild turkey, hawks and eagles. The best season for tourists is between the middle of June and October, when the atmosphere is usually cool and clear. The main tourist camp ground in General Grant National Park consists of 35 acres fenced with steel woven wire attached to cedar posts. A description of the forests with their “big trees” is given in the article Sequoia National Park. See also National Parks And Monuments.