Historic Yosemite National Park: The Stories Behind One of America's Great Treasures

by Tracy Salcedo Chourre, Tracy Salcedo

The history of Yosemite National Park is as compelling as the waterfalls, monoliths, and peaks that have mesmerized visitors for more than a century. But what hikers see today in the iconic Yosemite Valley, as well as on the peaks in the high country and within the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, is a world away from the place Native Americans once called Ahwahnee, and from what gold-seekers and mountain men looked upon in the park’s earliest days.
Historic Yosemite National Park is a vibrant collection of stories about different aspects of Yosemite National Park’s fascinating history, from the conservation works of pivotal characters such as writer John Muir and photographer Ansel Adams to the daring exploits of rock climbers and the natural forces that have shaped Yosemite’s stunning vistas. These stories reveal why Yosemite National Park has inspired humankind for centuries.

232 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2016

About the author

Author also writes as Tracy Salcedo

Reviews

[Christina Dent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library because we're planning a trip to Yosemite and I wanted to understand the place better. What I liked about it the most is that it's broken into chapters that each focus on a different aspect of the park (geology, the golden age of rock climbing, the key figures who shaped it in its early days, etc.) so I could learn a little bit about a lot of different things.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and organized. Interesting catalogue of one of my favorite places.

[Summer Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the history of Yosemite. Condensed, to be sure, but very good information for anyone who is new to the wonder that is Yosemite. I love that the author paid due attention to John Muir and many other conservationists who paved the way for real conservation modernly in the National Parks today.

[Keith W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting, informative and enjoyable read. I especially liked the chapters on John Muir and on those who climb the rock faces of the many monolithic natural structures in the park. My chief criticism is the lack of a map. This is an intensely geographic book with countless references to many different locations in the park yet there is no map to enable the reader to understand where these places are. I found some of the frequently mentioned places in a park map on the Internet but a reader who pays good money for a book should not have to shift back and forth between the Internet and the book to keep track of locations. Whoever edited this book should have noticed that omission and corrected it before publication.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great starter book for those interested in diving into Yosemite history a little deeper than what you find in the parks. For me, the first 75% of the book was exactly what I was looking for. I’m tired of reading about John Muir and his writings. I’ve wanted something that opens the door to the actual history of the Yosemite settlement including the missteps. This is a perfect intro to that. The last 25% is nice but it feels bolted-on to cover various high-level topics like wildlife and natural disasters. Definitely recommend for anybody looking for this type of stuff.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this for a Yosemite trip that got cancelled because of a blizzard. Excited for when I go back next, a lot of things I didn't know about the park and its history. Also a great microcosm of American and California history. A good book for glaciers, John Muir, western settlers, colonial genocide, park ranger traditions, wildlife extinctions, and hippies. Ultimately nothing mind blowing, just informative.

[Jess Petsock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked it up at the Yosemite Valley Bookstore after chatting with some rangers and mountaineers about park history and loved it. Covers everything from pre-colonial natives, to the Grant and NPS incorporation, to modern preservation and conservation efforts. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the climbers, especially after visiting Camp 4.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick history on Yosemite. Unfortunately does not have footnotes and diverges to a natural history in the second half of the book.

I would recommend as a primer on the history of the park, a good place to find items of interest that could be approached with other works and archival materials.