RPPC - General Grant National Park

Kings Canyon National Park is an American national park in the southern Sierra Nevada, in Fresno and Tulare Counties, California. Originally established in 1890 as General Grant National Park, the park was greatly expanded and renamed to Kings Canyon National Park on March 4, 1940.

Beautiful strike of that postmark!

Interesting that the branches of government don't always coordinate, the USPOD did change the post office name until July 1, 1940:



(Postal Bulletin #17964, dated June 11, 1940)

In 1943, administration of Kings Canyon National Park was combined with the adjoining Sequoia National Park. It remain as such today with both parks administered as one under then name Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks California. Still has the namesake General Grant Tree.


Note the adults on the left standing on the road about 2/3rds down.



In April 1926, the General Grant Tree was name the National Christmas Tree by President Coolidge after the first Christmas ceremony held there Christmas Day 1925.






In 1956 President Eisenhower name the tree as a National Shrine,"in memory of the men an women of the Armed Forces who have served and fought and dies to keep this Nation free...." At the dedication of General Grant Tree National Shrine, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz mentioned its "equal stature with that other great shrine in Arlington Cemetery -- the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." The General Grant Tree remains the only living National Shrine in the USA.

This topic reminds me of my childhood, when we would take visiting relatives to see the Giant Sequoias. We went to see General Sherman more often than General Grant, though. (I grew up in Visalia, "The Gateway to the Sequoias.")