Fort Bragg in Mendocino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Charles Russell Johnson

Founder of Fort Bragg, CA

Photographed by Syd Whittle, May 18, 2007

1. Charles Russell Johnson Marker

Inscription.
This section of the largest Redwood Tree known to have grown in Mendocino County is dedicated this day, September 6, 1943 by the citizens of the City of Fort Bragg to the memory of Charles Russell Johnson who founded their city Aug. 5, 1889

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is August 5, 1889.

Location. 39° 26.696′ N, 123° 48.39′ W. Marker is in Fort Bragg, California, in Mendocino County. It can be reached from North Main Street (State Highway 1), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Bragg CA 95437, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Wine Country,

in the North Coast,

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast

and in the Pacific Northwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fort Bragg (a few steps from this marker); Major William F. Mullen Freedom Tree (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Building (about 700 feet away); The Weller House (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church Bell (approx. 0.2 miles away); Whirring Saws Silenced: A Pictorial History of the Mill Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dynamite Shack (approx. half a mile away); Our Past Through Our Trash (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Bragg.

Also see . . .

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1. C.R Johnson. Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society website entry (Submitted on July 30, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Fort Bragg - History Beginning 1867 . (Submitted on September 5, 2008.)

Charles Russell Johnson image. Click for full size.

via Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society, unknown

2. Charles Russell Johnson

Largest Redwood Tree image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, May 18, 2007

3. Largest Redwood Tree

Smaller Marker to the Left of Marker - Above the Saw Blade image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, May 18, 2007

4. Smaller Marker to the Left of Marker - Above the Saw Blade

TREE DATA-- Tree felled in Big Bear Creek of Ten Mile River Drainage April 18, 1943 *Estimated age - 1,753 years *Age of section - 1,728 years *Height of tree - 334 feet *Length of tree made into logs - 204 feet *Diameter of stump - 21 feet *Log scale - 140,800 ft. B.M. Spaulding Scale *A saw 22 ft. in length was used to fall the tree *Actual time required for cutting tree was 80 man-hours

Smaller Marker to the Left of Marker - Below the Saw Blade image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, May 18, 2007

5. Smaller Marker to the Left of Marker - Below the Saw Blade

Historical Events in the Life of This Tree--
0. 190 Tree started as seedling
1. 215 First year of this section
2. 311 Christianity recognized legally
3. 395 Roman Empire Divided
4. 652 Beginning of Mohammedanism
5. 800 Charlemagne became Emperor of the West
6. 982 Holy Roman Empire restored
7. 1066 Normans conquer England
8. 1188 Order of Knights Templar founded
9. 1215 Magna Charta signed
10. 1295 Marco Polo returned to Venice
11. 1492 Columbus discovered America
12. 1542 Cabrillo discovered California from sea
13. 1832 Gustavus II, Great Swedish King died
14. 1776 Declaration of Independence
15. 1851 First sawmill in Mendocino County
16. 1885 C.R. Johnson built sawmill at Fort Bragg
17. 1943 Year this tree was cut

Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 5,772 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 2. submitted on July 30, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.