Park Rangers.—The rangers are here to help and advise you as well as to enforce the regulations. When in doubt ask a ranger.
Warning About Bears.—Do not feed the bears from the hand; they are wild animals and may bite, strike, or scratch you. They will not harm you if not fed at close range. Bears will enter or break into automobiles if food that they can smell is left inside. They will also rob your camp of unprotected food supplies, especially in the early spring or late fall when food is scarce. It is best to suspend food supplies in a box well out of their reach between two trees. Bears are especially hungry in the fall of the year and serious loss or damage may result if food is left accessible to them.
All articles lost or found should be reported to the ranger headquarters in the New Village, to any ranger station, or to the offices at Camp Curry, Yosemite Lodge, or the Ahwahnee. Persons should leave their name and address so that articles which are not claimed within 60 days may be turned over to the finders.
Suggestions, complaints, or comments regarding any phase of park management, including the operation of camp grounds, hotels, and attitude of employees, should be communicated immediately to the superintendent.
C. G. Thomson, Superintendent.
CONTENTS
PAGE [The Yosemite Valley] 1 [How the Valley Was Formed] 3 [Waterfalls] 3 [Altitude of Summits Inclosing Yosemite Valley] 6 [Height of Waterfalls] 4 [Glacier Point and the Rim of Yosemite Valley] 4 [The Big Trees] 7 [The Wawona Basin] 8 [Hetch Hetchy Valley] 8 [Tuolumne Meadows] 10 [Pate Valley] 11 [The Northern Canyons] 12 [The Mountain Climax of the Sierra] 12 [Merced and Washburn Lakes] 13 [Climate and Seasons] 13 [Winter Sports] 14 [Trails and Hikes] 15 [Fishing] 17 [How to Reach the Park] 20 [By Automobile] 20 [By Railroad and Auto Stage] 22 [By Airplane] 22 [Administration] 23 [Information Bureau] 23 [Free Educational Service] 23 [Museum] 24 [Yosemite Field School of Natural History] 26 [Ranger-Naturalist Outpost] 26 [Accommodations for Visitors] 26 [Free Public Camp Grounds] 26 [Hotels, Lodges, Housekeeping Cabins, and Camps] 27 [Yosemite Transportation System] 30 [Stage Trips] 31 [Saddle Trips] 31-32 [Valley Floor Rides] 32 [Stores and News Stands] 32 [Photographic Service] 32 [Laundries] 33 [Barber Shops] 33 [Garage Service] 33 [Children’s Playground] 34 [Postal Service] 34 [Express Service] 35 [Telephone and Telegraph Service] 35 [Medical and Hospital Service] 35 [Church Services] 35 [References] 36 [Publications for Sale at Museum] 37 [Government Publications] 40
IMPORTANT EVENTS IN YOSEMITE’S HISTORY
| 1851. | Mariposa Battalion discovered Yosemite Valley from Inspiration Point, March 25. Name “Yosemite Valley” applied. |
| 1855. | J. M. Hutchings organized first party of sightseers to enter Yosemite Valley. |
| 1856. | “Lower Hotel”, first permanent structure, built by Walworth and Hite at base of Sentinel Rock. |
| 1858. | Cedar Cottage built; still in use. |
| 1864. | Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Trees granted to California as a State park. |
| 1868. | John Muir made his first trip to Yosemite. |
| 1871. | Conway started work on Four-Mile Trail to Glacier Point. Finished in 1872. |
| 1874. | Coulterville Road built to Valley floor. Big Oak Flat route completed to Yosemite Valley. |
| 1875. | Wawona Road built to floor of Yosemite Valley. |
| 1876. | Sentinel Hotel built. |
| 1881. | Tunnel cut through Wawona Tree. |
| 1882. | Tioga Road constructed. John Conway built Glacier Point Road. |
| 1890. | Yosemite National Park created October 1. |
| 1891. | Capt. A. E. Wood, first park superintendent, arrived with Federal troops to administer park, May 17. Headquarters at Wawona. |
| 1899. | Camp Curry established. |
| 1900. | Holmes Brothers, of San Jose, drove first automobile (a Stanley Steamer) into Yosemite over the Wawona Road. |
| 1906. | Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove receded to United States. Superintendent’s headquarters (Maj. H. C. Benson, superintendent) moved to Yosemite Valley. |
| 1907. | Yosemite Valley Railroad opened for travel to El Portal. Visitors, 7,102. |
| 1913. | Automobiles admitted to Yosemite Valley. |
| 1914. | Civilian employees replaced military in administration of park. Visitors, 15,154. |
| 1915. | Stephen T. Mather purchased Tioga Road; presented it to Federal Government. |
| 1916. | National Park Service Act passed August 25. |
| 1917. | Stephen T. Mather made Director of the National Park Service. Glacier Point Hotel built and opened. |
| 1919. | First airplane landed in Yosemite Valley, May 27, Lt. J. S. Krull, pilot, alone. |
| 1920. | Construction started on All-Year Highway up Merced Canyon. Visitors, 68,906. |
| 1923. | Hikers’ camps installed. Visitors, 130,046. |
| 1924. | New administration center and village developed. |
| 1925. | Yosemite Park & Curry Co. formed by consolidation of Curry Camping Co. and Yosemite National Park Co. Park visitors, 209,166. |
| 1926. | All-Year Highway completed and dedicated July 31. |
| 1927. | Ahwahnee Hotel opened by Yosemite Park & Curry Co. The second largest travel year in park history—490,430 visitors. |
| 1930. | Reconstruction of log cabin in Mariposa Grove to house Museum of Big Trees. Park visitors, 458,566. |
| 1931. | Construction of 4,233-foot tunnel through Turtleback Dome for new Wawona Road. |
| 1932. | Wawona basin of 14 square miles added to the park. New Wawona Road and tunnel completed. Big Trees Lodge constructed. Largest travel year in park history—498,289 visitors. |