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Description
The giant Sequoia is a marvel of nature. These are some of the largest trees in the world and they reside in Kings Canyon National Park in California. Each of these grand giants is named for historical figures. In this region, called Ulysses S. Grant Grove, there was a tree named after a slave owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The tree was named by a former Confederate lieutenant around 1875 [3], only ten years after the South was defeated. Ironically, the sequoia tree was found in the Union General Ulysses S. Grant section because these two generals fought each other late in the war with Grant prevailing.
However, after the country experienced protests over the police murder of George Floyd, Robert E. Lee's name was removed from the tree. This does not mean General Lee has left California forests. At least two other giant sequoias--located in Yosemite and Sequoia national parks-- currently bear Lee's name [1]. The name removal would only be ceremonial because trees cannot be officially renamed without government involvement.
The Kings Canyon tree was given a formal dedication by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1937 keeping the Lost Cause narrative alive in California [4]. It took 83 years for the park to decide to remove the defender of slavery's name from other public places [2]. There is sentiment for renaming the tree after the opposite of Lee, like African American abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass [2]. These majestic trees are a symbol of strength and by naming this one after a high-ranking member of the Confederate military, the Lost Cause narrative fused politics with nature.
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Source
2. "Letters to the Editor: Four California Giant Sequoias are Named After Robert E. Lee. that's a Disgrace." Los Angeles Times Communications LLC, last modified Jun 19.
3. Grossi, Mark. 2009. "Robert E. Lee Giant Sequoia Labeled as Hazard." McClatchy - Tribune Business News, Aug 05. https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/robert-e-lee-giant-sequoia-labeled-as-hazard/docview/465387801/se-2?accountid=9840.
4. Moffitt, Mike. 2020. "Sequoia, Kings Canyon to Erase Robert E. Lee's Name from Trees." TCA Regional News, Jun 23. https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/sequoia-kings-canyon-erase-robert-e-lees-name/docview/2416024848/se-2?accountid=9840.
Date
Signage removed: June 2020