Near Crescent City in Del Norte County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
National Tribute Grove
5000 Acres
— Largest World War II Memorial in the United States —
Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, August 19, 2018
1. National Tribute Grove Marker
National Tribute Grove
is preserved through the
National Society
Daughters of the American Revolution
to honor those who served in the armed forces
of the United States in World War II
and to keep inviolate these primeval sequoias
as an American heritage
In the preservation of these redwoods one-half of the purchase funds was contributed by the State of California
Erected 1949 by National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR); Save the Redwoods League; Garden Club of America.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list.
Location. 41° 48.145′ N, 124° 5.103′ W. Marker is near Crescent City, California, in Del Norte County. The marker is located in the Day Use area within the Jedediah Smith State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crescent City CA 95531, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Simpson-Reed Grove (approx. 1.4 miles away); Simpson-Reed Discovery Trail (approx. 1.4 miles away); Camp Lincoln
this page online
More about this marker. *NOTE* The marker mentions 500 acres of preserved Redwoods which was probably the initial grove size set aside in 1949 but the grove has since expanded to 5,000 acres today.
Marker is located in the Jedediah Smith State Park and in the Day Use portion of the park (north of the campground). A day use fee of $8 is required if visitors stay to tour the park area. No fee is required if only passing through or visiting this monument.
Regarding National Tribute Grove. The 5,000 acre National Tribute Grove is located south of this marker and across the Smith River and not readily accessible by visitors as there are no roads or trails to the grove. After talking with a park ranger at the nearby visitor center, it is understood
Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, August 19, 2018
2. National Tribute Grove Marker
Small plaque on marker highlighting the National Tribute Grove boundary
The following is text taken from the Save the Redwoods League website which published an article on September 26, 2014 to highlight this memorial:
In 1945, with victory in Europe and Japan within sight, individuals and organizations all across the country united in a nationwide effort to preserve 5,000 acres of old-growth redwoods as the National Tribute Grove. The effort, led by Save the Redwoods League and aided by the Garden Club of America, would honor the 16.1 million men and women who served in America’s Armed Forces during World War II.
Thousands of people and organizations from all 48 states and the territories of Alaska and Hawaii contributed to help fund the National Tribute Grove in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, with the name of each donor recorded in a “Golden Book” in the National Archives, along the names of the soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen their contributions honor.
The grove was dedicated 65 years ago, on September 25, 1949. At the dedication ceremony, Newton Drury, who was then director of the National Park Service after having led the League for many years, spoke for all Americans when he said the National Tribute Grove was to be known as an ever-living
Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, August 19, 2018
3. National Tribute Grove Marker
According to the National Park Service, the National Tribute Grove is the largest WWII memorial in America. But, the grove was lost to near-obscurity for many years, as road changes and vegetation growth hid the marker in shadows.
The grove marker was recently unveiled and rededicated in a new location in the park’s day use area, so that this unparalleled monument to our veterans will be remembered and appreciated for generations to come.
Also see . . . History of Redwoods and Save the Redwoods League - 100 Years of Protecting Redwoods. An excellent interactive timeline of the history of the Redwoods and the movements over the years to preserve the last remaining old-growth timber in the Pacific Northwest. (Submitted on August 19, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, August 19, 2018
4. National Tribute Grove Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 372 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on February 26, 2024, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 19, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
