Redwood Highway Early Stagecoach Bus Route 1914 Real Photo Postcard

Crescent City, situated on California's rugged far northern coast, serves as a gateway to the spectacular ancient groves of coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). These forests, renowned for containing the world's tallest trees, have historically presented both a challenge and an attraction for human passage. The development of roadways through this dense, monumental terrain in the early 20th century was crucial for connecting remote communities and facilitating early automobile tourism.

Dating likely from the 1910s or 1920s, this image captures a pivotal moment when the automobile was transforming American leisure and travel, making previously inaccessible natural wonders more available to the public. Such scenic routes fostered an appreciation for these unique ecosystems, which in turn fueled the growing conservation movement that led to the establishment of state parks like Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and, eventually, Redwood National Park, protecting these invaluable natural assets.