A Human-like Tree Immortalized

#RockSolidHistory from #JoshuaTreeNationalPark!

The Joshua Tree is found only in the Mojave Desert and nearby areas of California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. It is a true tree, with wooden insides, not a cactus.

Early Mormon settlers named this tree, thinking its silhouette looked like Joshua, who outstretched his arms in prayer due to victory over the harsh desert conditions after guiding the Israelites, according the Bible. These pioneers felt the same way.
 
Of course the local Native American tribes who lived here, the Cahuilla and Kawaiisu, called this tree hunuvat chiy’a or humwichawa, and had long used its leaves, flowers, and fruits as food and to create tools and materials.
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#MormonHistory #pioneerhistory #SouthwestNatives #CahuillaHistory #KawaiisuHistory