Yosemite Valley!

Yosemite Valley
Landmark #790 Mariposa County Visited: February 17, 2013 Plaque?  YES! 🙂
What is it? A plaque on the wall of the Yosemite National Park visitor center!
What makes it historical? THE GUIDE SAYS: On June 30, 1864, in an act signed by President Abraham Lincoln, the United States granted the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the State of California to “be held for public use, resort, and recreation . . . inalienable for all time.” This, the first federal authorization to preserve scenic and scientific values for public benefit, was the basis for the later concept of state and national park systems. In 1906 the State of California returned the land, considered the first state park in the country, so that it could become part of Yosemite National Park.

OTHER TIDBITS: The Southern Sierra Miwok who originally called this place home named this valley Ahwahnee, which meant “mouth,” because it was shaped like a bear’s mouth! Yosemite, which white settlers applied to both the valley and the tribe, came from Yohhe’meti, which was a derogatory term for a renegade tribe in the valley and meant “those who kill!”

John Muir first visited here in 1868 and was so impressed that he found a job working as a shepherd, then at the sawmill of James Mason Hutchings, who saw himself as the authority on Yosemite and didn’t like that Mr. Muir was getting the attention! Jealousy aside, Mr. Muir went on to work with President Theodore Roosevelt to designate Yosemite a national park!

It’s a little known fact that over 500 Buffalo Soldiers served as some of the park’s first rangers! Until the founding of the National Park Service in 1916, the US Army took on the role of evicting poachers of trees and animals, and putting out forest fires! Because these Buffalo Soldiers were African-American, they faced the added challenge of not offending their officers in the slightest, or else they would be abused or killed!

Finally, at the age of 14, Ansel Adams made his first trip to Yosemite! The famed nature photographer, who would go on to use his photography to promote the creation of Kings Canyon National Park and to expose the disgrace of Manzanar, got his start making black and white photographs of Yosemite’s most famous features: Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridal Veil Falls, and more!

This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places!

How can I Help the Helpers? HERE’S HOW:

  • Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
  • Volunteer with Yosemite Volunteer Program!
  • Donate to the Yosemite Conservancy!
  • Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place? LISTED DIRECTIONS:
Mounted on entrance wall of auditorium bldg, Visitor Center
Yosemite National Park

ANNOTATIONS:
The auditorium is actually a separate building behind the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center!

9035 Village Dr
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

From Los Angeles: ~311mi (501km) — 5.2hrs
From Sacramento: ~188mi (303km) — 3.2hrs
From San Diego: ~431mi (694km) — 7.2hrs
From San Francisco: ~207mi (334km) — 3.5hrs

When should I go? Whenever the mood strikes you!

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley

Click here to see more California historical landmarks!

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