Yosemite Stage Driver: The Life and Times of George Monroe and His Family

by Tom Bopp

One glorious week in Yosemite, stage driver George Monroe shared his bench with Ulysses S. Grant. The backstory, told here for the first time, reveals a family's epic journey from the Antebellum South, through the California Gold Rush and on to Yosemite, ending in Southern California at the dawn of the automobile era. The story follows Monroe's rise to the top of his profession, his mother's heroic fight for her family, his father's role in civil rights, and how they built a 480-acre ranch near Yosemite. Weaving rare artifacts of Monroe's life story with a rich trove of primary sources, this history paints the backdrop of George Monroe's career and the beginnings of Yosemite tourism. With new research into local Black history, Yosemite's Wawona Hotel, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Monroe's story gives a kaleidoscopic glimpse into the rich history of the American West.

298 pages, Paperback

Published June 17, 2023

Reviews

[Phil Parkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting times are covered, and we learn a lot about times when we follow people who live normal lives. The lives of the Monroes of Yosemite are anything but normal as free African Americans during slavery, but their goals were commonplace. Mostly recommended only if you are extremely interested in the 19th century history of Yosemite, this book is exceptionally well researched which means we have many particulars about a very sparse story.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to rain on Mr. Bopp's parade but while this is a very workmanlike recitation of facts covering a number of areas of more or less interest than George Monroe and is thus quite informative, it lacks any insightful historiography.
I found myself skipping through the book.