In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit one of California’s longest-running tourist attractions: a giant stump that helped spark the movement to preserve the state’s natural places.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.