The Ever-Changing View

Much can be learned about the changing attitudes of the American people toward nature, natural resources, and each other, by examining the history of the US Forest Service.

People have been living, working, and playing in the national forests in California for more than 9,000 years. With 109 federally recognized tribes in California, the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Southwest Region encompasses almost 20% of the 574 federally recognized tribes in the nation — the most of any Forest Service region. Additionally, there are over 50 more non-federally recognized tribes in the state who may also have cultural interest in our national forests. List of tribes per national forest (PDF 336 KB).

Evidence of Native Americans, explorers, miners, loggers, and herders remain at the thousands of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites and historic buildings and structures scattered throughout the national forests in California. Remember these special places are protected by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act; removal or disturbance of any artifact, structure, or buried material is illegal. Enjoy the cultural resources, but please help us protect them for future visitors.

On December 20, 1892, the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve was created by President Harrison. The creation of the Reserve, the first in California and the forerunner of the Angeles National Forest, was in response to public concern about watershed values as early as 1883. President Cleveland proclaimed 13 new forest reserves, known as the "Washington's Birthday Reserves" in 1897. Two of these reserves were located in California; the San Jacinto (now part of the San Bernardino NF) and Stanislaus.

In 1907, the name of these reserves was changed to "National Forests."

Wood, water, forage and recreation on these lands became open for "wise" use to be managed for future generations.

The Pacific Southwest Region now administers over 20,000,000 acres on 18 National Forests. To find out more about the history of the 18 forests, visit each forest website and select "Learn" and then "History and Culture."