Happy Anniversary Yosemite!

You are here: > Happy Anniversary Yosemite!

Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park photo by D.H. Parks

With two significant anniversaries coming up for Yosemite, there has never been a better time to visit this awe inspiring US National Park which holds such a significant place in the history of the worldwide National Park movement. June 30, 2014, marks the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant Act. Amidst the chaos of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, with the lobbying of Galen Clark, Senator John Conness, and other concerned citizens, signed this act which granted Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to the state of California. In doing this President Lincoln made history by designating the first protected wild land for all time, and setting the stage for the subsequent creation of the National Park system. [column col=”1/2″] Galen Clark, advocate for the protection of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and Yosemite Valley and the first state-appointed guardian of Yosemite wrote: “I have seen persons of a sensitive refined emotional temperament stand with tearful eyes spell-bound and dumb with awe as they get their first view of Yosemite from Inspiration Point.” To mark this 150th anniversary, Yosemite National Park with the help of its many partners, friends and gateway communities, is hosting a nationwide commemoration from August 2013 to October 2014 with lots of special exhibitions, activities and celebrations. If you can’t make this 150th anniversary, then there’s still Yosemite’s next big anniversary on the October 1, 2015. This marks the 125th Anniversary of the establishment of Yosemite as a full National Park when the surrounding land and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias were added. [/column] [column col=”1/2″ last=”true”] news-yosemite-happy-anniversary-yosemite-01 Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias photo by Faungg [/column] The park is best known for its towering granite monoliths and waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, and giant sequoias. There is something for everyone. No words or videos or pictures or stories can convey just how majestic Yosemite National Park truly is. You just have to go to see it for yourself! [column col=”1/2″]