Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park

Although the history of Yosemite dates back thousands of years, it's history as a national park began in the 1800s. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant on June 30th, 1864. This grant deeded Yosemite Valley to the state of California to be held for public use, recreation, resort, and for people from all over the world to experience its natural, unaltered beauty for all time. 

Yosemite Falls

By October 1, 1890, the U.S. Congress had set aside more than 1,500 square miles of "reserved forest lands" soon to be known as Yosemite National Park. It included the area surrounding Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

"...that the said State shall accept this grant upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation..." -The Yosemite Grant, June 30th, 1864










News of the national park quickly spread all over the nation, bringing in every tourist that wanted to get a glimpse of the towering valley walls. But there needed to be a way to accommodate these visitors. Hotels were built, crops were planted, and livestock lived in the valley meadows. In the 1920s, nature guides were hired to help educate visitors about the park and the Field School for Natural History was established. 

Modern Heated Sleeping Cabins  

        Over the years, many things have been changed and added to the park—from paved roads, parking lots, dining areas and bars, and museums. Today, the hardworking staff of the National Park Service—along with its park partners and legions of volunteers—continues to meet the challenge of protecting Yosemite's unique natural and cultural treasures for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

Yosemite Valley upon Glacier Point