thumb|The Wawona Tunnel Tree, carved in 1881, was promoted by the National Park Service as a symbol of America’s natural treasures.The creation of tunnel trees, including the iconic Wawona Tree, further cemented the cultural legacy of the sequoias. By carving pathways through their immense trunks, Americans celebrated their ability to master the wilderness, embodying the spirit of exploration and progress that defined the nation's expansion. These trees became popular tourist attractions during the rise of the automobile age, embodying the frontier spirit of exploration and progress. However, as the weakened trees began to collapse, they came to symbolize the unintended consequences of human ambition. Today, the California Tunnel Tree, the last surviving tunnel tree, protected in Mariposa Grove, stands as a relic of the past and a symbol of changing values.
thumb|The Wawona Tunnel Tree, carved in 1881, was promoted by the National Park Service as a symbol of America’s natural treasures.The creation of tunnel trees, including the iconic Wawona Tree, further cemented the cultural legacy of the sequoias. By carving pathways through their immense trunks, Americans celebrated their ability to master the wilderness, embodying the spirit of explorati,on and progress that defined the nation's expansion. These trees became popular tourist attractions during the rise of the automobile age embodying the frontier spirit of exploration and progress. However, as the weakened trees began to collapse, they came to symbolize the unintended consequences of human ambition. Today, the California Tunnel Tree, the last surviving tunnel tree, protected in Mariposa Grove, stands as a relic of the past and a symbol of changing values.