WHAT TO SEE AND DO
The Principal Attractions in the park which the visitor should see are as follows:
One-Day Stay.—Should include the Sherman Tree, Lodgepole Camp, Moro Rock, Parker Group, Crescent Meadow, and Tharp Cabin Log in the Giant Forest district. A drive out the Generals Highway to Lost Grove and General Grant National Park should be included.
Two-Day Stay.—In addition to the above should include the Alta Trail as far as McKinley Tree, Congress Group, and the High Sierra Trail to Eagle View.
Three-Day Stay.—Should include in addition, Tokopah Valley, Sugar Pine Trail to Kaweah Vista, and view of Marble Falls, from Admiration Point.
Four-Day to a Week Stay.—Will enable the visitor to see all of the foregoing attractions and to take the high mountain trips on High Sierra Trail to the cream of Sierra scenery at River Valley, Hamilton Lake, or Tamarack Lakes; to Twin Lakes, Alta Meadows and Peaks, Mount Silliman, Emerald and Heather Lakes, The Watchtower, Colony Mill, Little Baldy Fire Lookout, Admiration Point, and Marble Falls, with many other points.
Three-Week to a Month Stay.—Will permit a trail trip through wonderful country by the High Sierra Trail over Kaweah Gap to Big Arroyo, Kern Canyon, and Mount Whitney through the finest scenery of the Sierra Nevada. The Kern Canyon is a 25-mile valley with 3,000-foot walls, fine fishing, and lovely waterfalls.
It is no exaggeration to state that any length of time from 1 day to all summer may be profitably and enjoyably spent in the park. New beauties and natural wonders will be unfolded each day.
Events
OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE
| 1858 | Giant Forest discovered by Hale Tharp, of Three Rivers, Calif., in September. |
| 1861 | First ascent of Moro Rock by Hale Tharp and George and John Swanson. |
| 1865 | Last of Potwisha Tribe of Indians left the park area. |
| 1873 | First ascent of Mount Whitney by A. H. Johnson, C. D. Begole, and John Lucas on August 18. |
| 1875 | Giant Forest first visited by John Muir. |
| 1879 | Sherman Tree discovered and named by James Wolverton, August 7. |
| 1881 | Samuel Pierpont Langley conducted researches in solar heat on summit of Mount Whitney. |
| 1881 | First ascent of Mount Kaweah, by J. W. A. Wright, F. H. Wales, and W. B. Wallace. |
| 1885 | Clough Cave discovered by William O. Clough, April 6. "Kaweah Colonists" filed on Giant Forest land, October. |
| 1886 | Giant Forest North Fork Road construction commenced by colony. |
| 1890 | Park created by act of Congress on September 25; second national park to be established. |
| 1891 | First administration of park by Capt. J. H. Dorst, Fourth United States Cavalry, and troop. Entered park June 7. |
| 1899 | First official survey of park by Isaac N. Chapman. Completed in 1900. |
| 1900 | First appropriation ever granted for park operations ($10,000). |
| 1902 | First transportation and camp operations permittee, Broder & Hopping. |
| 1903 | First road into Giant Forest completed August 15. |
| 1904 | First automobile entered Giant Forest, May 24. Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Luper, Vallejo, Calif. |
| 1905 | First white child born at Giant Forest (Forest Grunigen) August 31. |
| 1907 | First telephone line constructed, Three Rivers to Giant Forest, 33 miles. First post office established at Giant Forest. (Ranger.) |
| 1909 | Stone house on top of Mount Whitney built by Smithsonian Institution for solar heat observations. |
| 1914 | Walter Fry appointed first civilian superintendent. |
| 1919 | Exclusive jurisdiction over park ceded by California. |
| 1920 | Walter Fry appointed first U. S. Commissioner; Col. John R. White appointed superintendent. |
| 1926 | Park enlarged to include Kern district, increasing area from 252 to 604 square miles. |
| 1934 | Generals Highway opened to General Grant National Park. |