Pioneer Yosemite History Center - A Walk Back in Time
Yosemite National Park was established 130 years ago in 1890, but even two decades before that it was placed under federal protection by Abraham Lincoln in 1864. Today we are taking a walk back in time to explore some of Yosemite’s oldest structures and the stories behind them at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center.
While millions of people visit Yosemite every year, few know the history and the pioneers who helped form the idea of what this place would eventually become. At Pioneer Yosemite History Center the National Park Service remembers the people who had the vision for and helped establish this amazing park.
Nearly a dozen structures stand here, each representing a different time and chapter in Yosemite’s history. It’s interesting to note that all of the structures located here were originally built in different areas across Yosemite, but in the 1950s and 60s they were brought here to be a part of this educational center. A vision of what Yosemite originally was comes to life as you stroll by horse drawn carriages, log cabins and the beautiful covered bridge.
Covered Bridge
The covered bridge was built in 1857 by Galen Clark, who became the first guardian of the Yosemite Grant. The bridge served all Yosemite automobile traffic until 1937 and was a major component of Clark's proposed new road from Wawona to the Yosemite Valley. This bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, and it is definitely a highlight of this exibxit. However, there are many other fascinating buildings and stories to go along with them here.
Artist Cabin
Artists, explorers, and writers were some of the first visitors to share the beauty of this place in the 1850s. Sharing their stories and art, they played a key role increasing awareness, tourism and protection of Yosemite. Artist Cabin honors painter Christian Jorgensen, who constructed this building which once sat along the banks of the Merced River near Sentinel Bridge in Yosemite Valley.
Wells Fargo Office
In the early 1900s, Yosemite Valley was a hub for visitors. Tourists arriving by horse-drawn stagecoaches or automobiles used this office to make railroad and lodging reservations, place long-distance phone calls, or send telegrams. One fascinating fact about this building is how it was moved here from the Yosemite Valley. The building was too large to fit through the opening of the Wawona Tunnel, so local builder Glenn Gordo (who helped with most of the structures here) cut it down the middle with a chainsaw. He removed a yard of flooring, and then pushed the building back together, tightly securing it with cables for the trip to its current location.
Hodgdon Homestead Cabin
This beautiful two story log cabin was built by Jeremiah Hodgdon in 1879. Along with being a family home for the Hodgdons, this cabin housed Great Sierra Wagon Road workers in the 1880s, and was used as a patrol cabin for U.S. Army troops who managed the new national park in the 1890s. It was a historic landmark at the old Aspen Valley Resort before making its way here, where it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Other Buildings
Other buildings of interest located here include a small jailhouse constructed of rough granite blocks and soft mortar, as well as the Acting Superintendent’s Headquarters, which was built by the U.S. Army in 1904, George Anderson’s Cabin remembers the Yosemite pioneer who gained fame by being the first man to climb Half Dome in 1875. The Little Pioneer House, Blacksmith Shop, and Bakery all have a unique Yosemite stories to tell as well. A handful of carefully restored horse drawn carriages greet you as you enter the grounds, and you’ll want to take a moment to appreciate how all visitors once traveled throughout this park.
For more detailed information on how these all these structures arrived here see this article.
Know before you go
• Please be considerate of the Leave no Trace Principles to help keep this place wild and beautiful.
• Currently reservations are required to enter Yosemite National Park through Oct. 2020, which can be attained here.
• This historic area can easily be enjoyed in under one hour.
• While visitors can walk the grounds year round, interiors are open in the Summer on a limited basis.
• There are special programs and carriage rides here in the Summer.
Other Yosemite Points of Interest
• Mariposa Grove
• Wawona Swinging Bridge
• Taft Point
• Sentinel Dome
• Yosemite Valley
• Glacier Point
• Cooks Meadow/Lower Falls Loop
• Tioga Pass
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
Thanks for taking a step back in time with me at Pioneer Yosemite History Center. For a virtual tour see my behind the blog video below, and until next week I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go
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