Congaree National Park in central South Carolina protects the largest remaining tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States, a floodplain shaped by the Congaree River rather than a true swamp. Its vast forest includes wilderness, some of the tallest trees in the eastern United States, a globally notable concentration of champion trees, and cypress more than 500 years old, supporting diverse wildlife. After earlier threats from cypress logging, preservation advocates led by Harry R. E. Hampton helped build support for federal protection. The area became Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976, was expanded in 1988, and was redesignated as Congaree National Park in 2003.