• Giant Sequoia Trees

    Sequoia & Kings Canyon

    National Parks California

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  • Changes to Some Opening/Closing Dates for Services and Facilities – Check Back for Updates

    Some of the opening/closing dates for facilities and visitor services in the parks have changed due to weather and/or other circumstances. See link for details and match to locations on the park map (under "Park Tools," bottom left, this page). More »

  • Road Conditions (Entire Park) and Road Construction Delays (if Entering/Exiting Hwy. 198)

    Expect 20-minute to 1-hour construction delays on main road through parks (Generals Hwy) until Memorial Day weekend (7 a.m.-6 p.m.). See link for schedule. Call for 24-hour road conditions info: 559-565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1). More »

  • Vehicle Length Limits Have Changed in Sequoia NP (if Entering/Exiting Hwy 198)

    Planning to see the "Big Trees" in Sequoia National Park? If you enter/exit via Hwy. 198, please pay close attention to new vehicle length advisories for your safety and the safety of others. More »

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    We are experiencing technical problems receiving some incoming phone calls at the parks. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please keep trying to reach us or check this website for frequently-asked questions. The search box (top, right) may be helpful.

Giant Forest Museum

The Giant Forest Museum, converted from the historic Market building, introduces visitors to the natural history of the big trees.

The Giant Forest Museum, converted from the historic Market building, introduces visitors to the natural history of the big trees.

NPS photo by Athena Demetry

The Giant Forest Museum, together with a connecting nature trail system leading to Round Meadow and vicinity, provides a basic introduction to the primary features of Giant Forest including its giant sequoias, meadows, and human history. The renovation of the historic Giant Forest market building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, began in 1999, and conversion to a museum and visitor center was completed in summer 2001.

Designed to serve as the starting point for visits to the grove, the Giant Forest Museum provides visitors the opportunity to learn the story of the giant sequoias and Giant Forest. Self-guiding interpretive trails lead from the museum to the Round Meadow and Hazelwood areas.

To support the museum, the Beetle Rock building was retained to serve as a classroom and auditorium for educational purposes, run by the Sequoia Natural History Association. The ranger residence and comfort station join the museum and Beetle Rock Educational Center as the only four buildings retained in Giant Forest.

 
New exhibits in the Museum illustrate the natural and human history of Giant Forest.

New exhibits in the museum illustrate the natural and human history of Giant Forest.

SNHA Photo by Steven M. Bumgardner

Parking lots for the Giant Forest Museum, accommodating up to 240 vehicles, were constructed in the former Upper and Lower Kaweah areas on sites previously occupied by buildings and parking lots. Small, accessible parking lots and shuttle stops are provided at the Museum and Round Meadow. New comfort stations were installed in the Lower Kaweah and Round Meadow areas. Trails were rebuilt to connect the Museum and the Big Trees trail around Round Meadow. Trails were reconstructed using boardwalk, bridges, and split- rail fencing in sensitive locations to allow visitors to enjoy the meadow and big trees without adversely affecting soils, vegetation, wildlife, and natural drainage patterns.

Did You Know?

Mineral crystals compared to size of a penny.

Most of the distinctive light-colored rock characteristic of the Sierra Nevada is a granitic rock called granodiorite. A huge formation of this rock, called a batholith, lies within the Sierra. Some 400 miles long and up to 50 miles wide, the Sierra batholith is one of the largest in North America. More...