General Grant

General Grant is a giant sequoia in Kings Canyon National Park in California and ranks as the third largest tree in the world by volume. Its trunk measures about 29 feet across at the base and the tree rises roughly 267 feet into the air.

Local residents began holding Christmas celebrations beneath the tree in the 1920s, which led to its official designation by President Coolidge in 1926. Over the following decades, the site gradually became a memorial space for the nation.

The tree has carried its name since 1867 in honor of the 18th president of the United States and was also designated a national shrine for fallen soldiers in 1956. Each December, a ceremony takes place here where wreaths are laid and speeches honor those who served.

A short paved loop trail of about half a mile circles the tree and is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. The path is usually walkable year-round but may be temporarily blocked by snow in winter.

Nearby lies a fallen giant trunk called Fallen Monarch, which was once used as shelter and even as a temporary bar. Its hollow interior is large enough that several people can walk through side by side.