Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - History

History

During the 1830s and 40s, when California was still part of Mexico, large land grants were created, called ranchos. The lands now included in the State Park were once parts of three different ranchos. Rancho Cañada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo, Rancho Zayante and Rancho Carbonera. By 1865, most of the former rancho lands had been subdivided. Industrialist Henry Cowell purchased 6,500 acres (26 km2) of the former Rancho Cañada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo, including 1,600 acres (6 km2) of forest, in 1865, adding to his quarrying and lime operations in the vicinity. A significant number of buildings in San Francisco were built using the redwood and limestone products from this area. In the 1920s the owners of a large resort adjacent to Henry Cowell's holdings raised support for the County of Santa Cruz to buy and preserve their pristine redwood lands, an action finally approved of, in large part thanks to the work of California Lieutenant Governor William Jeter, in 1930. Eventually Samuel Cowell, aged 90, last of the Cowell line, donated the rest of what became the park to the state, but only under the condition that Santa Cruz County also give up its portion of the land (Big Trees Park) to the state so that it could all be managed together. Thus Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was officially created on August 18, 1954. The separate Fall Creek unit was added later.