Yosemite National Park
Like cathedrals rising from the valley floor, Yosemite's towering spires of granite are a testament to the glaciers that formed this land eons ago. The glaciers are all gone now but the Merced River still meanders through Yosemite Valley and, on occasion, will alter the landscape with its powerful floods.
Native Americans were the main residents of the Yosemite Valley until the 1849 gold rush brought thousands of miners and settlers to the region. Tourists and damage to Yosemite's ecosystem followed. Had this land not come under the protection of the federal government in 1864 by the stroke of President Lincoln's pen, these 12,000 square miles would have been further damaged by commercial exploitation.
In 1889, naturalist John Muir realized that the vast meadows of Yosemite were being overgrazed by domestic sheep herds. Muir and his colleagues lobbied congress to recognize Yosemite as a national park. The effort succeeded and on October 1, 1890 President Benjamin Harrison signed the congressional action creating America's third national park. This bill set aside over 1500 square miles (similar in size to Rhode Island), and the way was paved to immortalize the towering granite steeples, the powerful glaciers, the deep valleys and majestic waterfalls for future generations. In 1906 the state-controlled Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were finally added to the park.
To view a large sized picture, click on the filmstrip image. To view this gallery as a slide show, click the play button or the arrow buttons. To learn the story behind the photo, click on any image as you scroll through the slide show. To view all my Yosemite National Park images, go to my Yosemite National Park Gallery on Istockphoto. Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America. For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List.
Native Americans were the main residents of the Yosemite Valley until the 1849 gold rush brought thousands of miners and settlers to the region. Tourists and damage to Yosemite's ecosystem followed. Had this land not come under the protection of the federal government in 1864 by the stroke of President Lincoln's pen, these 12,000 square miles would have been further damaged by commercial exploitation.
In 1889, naturalist John Muir realized that the vast meadows of Yosemite were being overgrazed by domestic sheep herds. Muir and his colleagues lobbied congress to recognize Yosemite as a national park. The effort succeeded and on October 1, 1890 President Benjamin Harrison signed the congressional action creating America's third national park. This bill set aside over 1500 square miles (similar in size to Rhode Island), and the way was paved to immortalize the towering granite steeples, the powerful glaciers, the deep valleys and majestic waterfalls for future generations. In 1906 the state-controlled Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were finally added to the park.
To view a large sized picture, click on the filmstrip image. To view this gallery as a slide show, click the play button or the arrow buttons. To learn the story behind the photo, click on any image as you scroll through the slide show. To view all my Yosemite National Park images, go to my Yosemite National Park Gallery on Istockphoto. Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America. For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List.