The Founding Forests

As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence, it's worth remembering that these forests have witnessed much more. When the Continental Congress declared independence, eastern hemlocks were already shading Appalachian valleys. Giant sequoias had been growing in California for centuries, while ancient bald cypress trees stood watch over Southern wetlands.

 Today, only a small fraction of America's original old-growth forests remain. Our interactive map highlights forests that are older than the United States. Explore where these extraordinary old-growth forests still stand and learn what makes each one unique. Each location tells a story that began long before the nation's founding and continues today through ongoing conservation and stewardship offering a chance to explore these founding forests and remind us just how young the United States is compared to the natural world.