NOVA MCGILL
Contributor
Yosemite National Park officially became a protected area on October 1, 1890, thanks to President Benjamin Harrison signing a law that set aside more than 1,500 square miles of California wilderness. This happened because of the hard work of John Muir and other conservationists, who spoke out about the importance of Yosemite’s famous landmarks like Half Dome, El Capitan, and its large sequoia trees. Their efforts played a huge role in the environmental movement, and made sure that the park would be saved for people to enjoy both then and in the future.
Before the Gold Rush of 1849, Native Americans had lived in the Yosemite Valley for generations. But when miners and settlers arrived, they changed the land in ways that harmed its natural balance. Conservationists noticed this and convinced President Abraham Lincoln to sign a law in 1864 that protected Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of sequoias. This was the very first time the U.S. government set aside land for preservation. That act was the beginning of both state and national parks, leading up to the creation of Yellowstone in 1872.
By the 1880s, John Muir saw that sheep were damaging Yosemite’s meadows, so he joined forces with magazine editor Robert Underwood Johnson to fight for stronger protection. Their campaign helped create Yosemite National Park, making it the third national park in the United States. In 1906, the valley and the Mariposa Grove were put under federal control, bringing all of Yosemite together as a national park.
Later on, photographer Ansel Adams helped make Yosemite even more famous by capturing its natural beauty in his photographs. Today, millions of people visit Yosemite National Park each year to see its stunning waterfalls, massive granite cliffs, and ancient trees. The park remains one of America’s most famous natural wonders thanks to the people who worked tirelessly to protect it.
Photo by Carleton E. Watkins