![]() ![]() The Sequoia occupies transition zones between the desert cultures to the east and Central Valley cultures to the west. These sites were occupied by a variety of tribes who have lived in the southern Sierra Nevada, including very recent occupations within the lifetimes of many local residents. ![]() Winter villages, large sprawling summer trade camps along high elevation travel routes, stone-tool manufacturing locations, small overnight hunting camps, food processing sites, and plant collecting areas have all been documented in great abundance on the forest. ![]() That prehistoric use has left behind thousands of archaeological sites throughout the forest at all elevations and in all environmental ecotones. Prehistory: The Sequoia has a long and rich history of Native American occupation, travel, and trade, dating back at least 10,000 years. The Kern Valley Museum in Kernville has displays and exhibits on the history of ranching, mining, the film industry, and hydroelectric development in the Kern River Valley. ![]() Evidence of many cabins on the forest still exists. Large-scale logging, gold mining, ranching, and farming brought settlers to communities in and near the Sequoia's boundaries. Remnants of the hoists, such as the Rob Roy hoist, and evidence of the chutes can be seen today in some areas. Converse Hoist was located on Hoist Ridge. Hoists were used, along with log chutes, to transport logs to mills, rough sawn lumber to the drying yards, and to the flumes. Today the lake is a popular recreation destination. The resulting lake was used for log storage and as a water source for the flume. Nominated as a National Historic Landmark, if designated, the dam would become one of the few National Historic Landmarks in the National Forest System. Hume Dam was the first concrete reinforced multiple arch dam built in the United States. Construction began in 1908 when Converse Basin was nearly cut over. The Hume Bennett Mill replaced Millwood and was located in Long Meadow at the confluence of Tenmile and Long Meadow Creeks. This mill was used during the logging of Converse Basin. Millwood was located near Sequoia Lake, which was created as a storage pond and water source for the flume. Other highly noticeable flumes and penstocks in use today are located along the Upper and Lower Kern River. Along the Tule River, the flume is visible from Highway 190, from Springville to Pierpoint Springs, and even crosses over the highway. (See They Felled the Redwoods and The Whistles Blow No More, by Hank Johnston.) Traces and remnants of the flume are still present in some areas.įlumes and penstocks diverting water to power plants are prominent in some areas of the forest. The Tenmile Creek segment was too steep for all but a few flume riders. In 1910, the Hume Bennett Mill constructed the longest flume that began at Hume Lake and traveled 59 miles down Tenmile Creek to the Kings River, connecting to the old flume to Sanger. This flume also transported people down the mountain on occasion. The Sanger flume was constructed in 1889 and ran from the mill at Millwood, along Mill Flat Creek (54 miles), to Sanger. These structures were used to transport lumber harvested and milled on the mountain ridges down to the Central Valley. Today these cutover lands host some of the best examples of giant sequoia regeneration, with vigorous stands of young trees thriving near the remaining monarchs.Įlevation and steep terrain prompted timber companies to look for ways other than roads and wagons to transport the product to market. During the late 1930s, after the purchase of the cutover lands from timber interests, the Forest Service, with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), began a gradual and extensive cleanup of the obsolete lumber camps at Hume, Millwood, and Converse Basin and the restoration of the forest ecosystem. Centennial of the Sequoia National Forest The Sequoia National ForestĬelebrating more than a Century of Serviceīefore the area became part of the Sequoia in 1935, the largest grove in the world, Converse Basin, was the site of the most extensive giant sequoia logging operation.Īmazingly, the operation never produced a profit for the operators. ![]()
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