Meet the General Grant Tree: The world's second-largest tree that became America's only living National Shrine

Most people who have heard of giant sequoias can usually name one tree: the General Sherman Tree . Far fewer realise that another extraordinary giant stands only a short distance away in California 's Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks . The General Grant Tree does not hold the title of the world's largest tree, yet its dimensions remain difficult to grasp even when standing beneath it. Beyond its sheer size, it has accumulated a remarkable public history over the past century. It has become the United States' National Christmas Tree , the country's only living National Shrine , and an enduring symbol that blends natural history with national remembrance. Together, those distinctions make it unlike any other tree on Earth.