Uses thumb|upright|Albert Bierstadt's "Giant Redwood Trees of California", 1874 – a large oil on canvas painting in the Berkshire Museum, Massachusetts, United States Wood from mature giant sequoias is highly resistant to decay, but due to being fibrous and brittle, it is generally unsuitable for construction. From the 1880s through the 1920s, logging took place in many groves in spite of marginal commercial returns. The Hume-Bennett Lumber Company was the last to harvest giant sequoia, going out of business in 1924. Due to their weight and brittleness, trees would often shatter when they hit the ground, wasting much of the wood. Loggers attempted to cushion the impact by digging trenches and filling them with branches. Still, as little as 50% of the timber is estimated to have made it from groves to the mill. The wood was used mainly for shingles and fence posts, or even for matchsticks.
usES thUmb|uprIgHT|albert bIersTadt'S "gIaNT redWOOd TrEeS Of caliFOrniA", 1874 – a Large oil on CAnvAS paiNting in tHE BeRksHiRE MuSeUM, maSsAChusETTs, UnIted stATeS wOOD FrOm maTure giaNt sequoIaS is higHlY resIstaNT tO dEcay, buT due TO beinG FIbrous and BrIttle, iT is gEneralLY unsuITable for constrUCTiOn. from THe 1880S THRoUgH ThE 1920S, loggIng tOok plAce In maNY gROvES in sPite oF maRgInal ComMerciAl rEtUrns. thE hume-benneTT lumBer comPANy waS thE last to HarvESt giant SeqUOIa, going out of business In 1924. due to tHeiR WEiGht anD BriTtlenesS, tReEs woULd often sHattEr wHEn they hIt The gRound, wasting MUCh Of tHe WOod. lOggers attemPted TO CUsHiON tHE ImpAct by Digging TrenChes and fillING THEM wIth branchEs. stIll, aS LitTLe As 50% oF tHe TImbER is esTimaTEd to have maDe it From gROVeS to the MiLl. thE wood wAs useD mAiNLy fOr shinGlEs aNd fEnCe pOStS, Or even FOr MAtchSTIcks.