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Hooker Oak Park: Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker

A bearded man in glasses, wearing a suit and vest, posed against a dark background in a painted portrait.
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
A large tree in a park with a winding dirt path and small structures around it, under a partly cloudy sky.
Hooker Oak Tree 1947
A sign for "Hooker Oak Recreation Area" in a lush park with trees, grass, and picnic benches.
Hooker Oak Park
A stone-edged memorial plaque for the "Hooker Oak" named by Annie E. K. Bidwell in honor of Sir Joseph Hooker, an English botanist.
Hooker Oak Park Dedication
A commemorative plaque in a park dedicated to the 'Hooker Oak' tree.
Hooker Oak Park Dedication
A bearded man in glasses, wearing a suit and vest, posed against a dark background in a painted portrait.
A large tree in a park with a winding dirt path and small structures around it, under a partly cloudy sky.
A sign for "Hooker Oak Recreation Area" in a lush park with trees, grass, and picnic benches.
A stone-edged memorial plaque for the "Hooker Oak" named by Annie E. K. Bidwell in honor of Sir Joseph Hooker, an English botanist.
A commemorative plaque in a park dedicated to the 'Hooker Oak' tree.

Hooker Oak Park is named after Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911), a renowned British botanist and explorer. The park’s name honors his contributions to botany, particularly his work in plant classification and global exploration. The Hooker Oak, once one of the largest valley oaks in the world, was named after him in recognition of his scientific achievements. Though the tree fell in 1977, its legacy—and the park’s name—live on as a tribute to the beauty and history of Chico’s natural landscape.