The giant sequoia offers a glance at more than 1,400 years of history. Until it was felled by lumberjacks in 1891, the tree from which the Museum's slice was taken stood in California more than 300 feet tall. Today, it is illegal to cut down giant sequoias.

The sequoia's thick bark is fire-resistant, and the trees contain a natural wood preservative. Sequoias are also very resistant to disease.