Hercules (tree) facts for kids
The Hercules Tree is a famous giant sequoia tree in California. It stands in the Mountain Home Grove. This tree is very special because it has a room carved right inside its trunk! Because of this unique feature, people sometimes call it the "Room Tree."
Contents
The Story of the Hercules Tree
How the Room Was Made
A long time ago, in 1884, a rich rancher named Jesse Hoskins (1849-1908) bought a large piece of land. This land was in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It had many giant sequoia trees on it. He named his new property Camp Lena.
Jesse Hoskins loved spending his summers among these huge trees. He gave the biggest trees special names from old stories and the Bible. He even put wooden name plates high up on many of them. One giant tree he named the Hercules Tree.
After studying the Hercules Tree for several summers, he had a big idea. He believed he could carve a room inside the tree without hurting it. Between 1897 and 1902, with help from a person named Mr. Meyers, he started working.
They drilled and cut a room that was about 12 feet (3.7 meters) wide and 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. Jesse Hoskins even added a wooden door with hinges to the room.
What the Room Was Used For
Jesse Hoskins first tried to live in the room he carved. But it didn't work out very well because the tree's sap kept leaking inside. So, he changed his plan.
He turned the room into a small gift shop! He sold little souvenirs made from the redwood pieces left over from carving the room. Imagine buying a gift from inside a giant tree!
Protecting the Tree
The Camp Lena land stayed with Jesse Hoskins's family until 1913, when they sold it. Later, in 1956, some logging happened in the area. This meant some trees were cut down. The Sierra Club, a group that protects nature, was very upset about this.
However, the Hercules Tree and other very large redwoods right nearby were saved. They were not cut down. In 1977, the Camp Lena land was bought by the State of California. This made sure the Hercules Tree would be protected forever. It became part of the Mountain Home State Demonstration Forest.
On September 4, 1984, a small fire started near the tree from a cigarette butt. It caused some damage to the Hercules Tree. Also, the original door and Jesse Hoskins's name plate have been stolen over the years. But even with these challenges, the Hercules Tree is still standing strong. You can still go inside the room today!
