Boole Tree
Giant sequoia in California, United States
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ToursExplore Lably’s 3D toursThe Boole Tree is the largest in the Converse Basin Grove, which is 5 miles (8 km) from the General Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. Converse Basin used to be a large grove, but was logged of most of its giant sequoias between 1892 and 1918. Now only perhaps 60–100 large specimens survive out of thousands. However, this grove is still the second-largest contiguous grove in the world.
Namesake
The tree is named for Frank Boole, general manager of the Sanger Lumber Company, which logged Converse Basin. Boole is thought to have ordered the tree spared during the logging of the grove. The name was in use by 1902; in correspondence that year, John Muir noted that he had seen and measured the same tree in 1877, when it was known as the "Hugh Miller."
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Description
The Boole Tree was once thought to be the largest tree in the world, but it is now known to be the sixth largest, with five other giant sequoias surpassing it in size: the General Sherman, General Grant, The President, Lincoln, and Stagg trees. Despite this, Boole is still the largest in terms of circumference, with a base measuring 113 ft (34 m).
Located among shorter Scouler willows that have grown in the area following logging, the tree stands out at a height of 268 feet (82 m). It is likely growing faster due to a lack of competition in its modified environment, and its survival may also be attributed to the reduction of fuel in the area since logging ceased in the 1900s.