Big Basin Redwoods Forest
A painter and a photographer, Hill was also an activist. Together with others, including a journalist, from 1899 he led a successful effort to preserve the dense forest in Southern California. It was home to the tallest and oldest trees in the world. Project developers and railway magnates wanted to exploit the area of the Redwoods Forest, which became a national park thanks to Hill’s efforts. Hill photographed the forest and opened a store there to sell his pictures.