People's Names in Yosemite

Part Two

with date of first visit

Matthes, Francois--1930s, wrote the definitive geological study of Yosemite, The Incomparable Valley, published in 1950.

Muir, John—1868, born in Scotland and raised in Wisconsin, his essays and books on Yosemite brought people to the valley.  Founder of the Sierra Club and regarded as the founder of the American Conservation movement.

Muybridge, Eadweard--1867, early photographer of Yosemite, realistic style.

Obata, Chiura--1930s, watercolor painter.

Olmsted, Frederick Law--1863, a landscape architect who early on saw the need to protect the valley, and pushed Sen. Conness to make it a State Park.

Orland, Ted--1966, photographer with wit, i.e. see his photo "One & a Half Domes."

Rockefeller, John D. Jr.--1930, with the U.S. Government, he bought out the logging interests, especially in the area above Bridalveil Fall.

Rowell, Galen--1970s, ground-breaking mountaineering photographer.

Russell, Carl--20th Century, Field Naturalist for the Park Service, wrote 100 Years in Yosemite.

Savage, James--1851, an attack on his trading post on the Merced River outside the valley spurred the formation of the Mariposa Battalion, which he led.

Snyder, Gary--1955, discovered his poetic voice in Yosemite working on a trail crew.

Watkins, Carleton E.--1859, early photographer of the valley.

Weed, Charles Leander--1859, first photographer, hired by Hutchings to take photographs he could use in his magazine.

Whitney, Josiah—California state geologist who disagreed with Muir over what forces created Yosemite.  He felt the valley floor dropped thousands of feet and that glaciers were not involved.  He was wrong.

Yosemite Sam--I haven't seen the crazy varmint yet, but I suspect he lives over by the Wawona Pioneer Village.

People's Names in Yosemite

Part One

with date of first visit

Ayres, Thomas--1855, was in the first tourist group.  He sketched the first drawings of the valley, which Hutchings used in his magazine.

Bunnell, Lafayette – 1851, a doctor was with the Mariposa Battalion when it entered the valley in pursuit of the Ahwahnechee.  He was overcome with awe and thought the valley was called "Yosemite."

Cleenewerck, Henry--1880s, landscape painter.

Conness, John--the U.S. Senator from California who put the Yosemite park bill before Congress in 1864.  Abraham Lincoln signed the release.

Conway, John--In 1871 he built the Four Mile Trail; in 1873 he built the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail.

Curry, David & Jennie--1899, they started a new concept in tourist travel by setting up seven tents for summer travelers at Camp Curry.

Hill, Thomas--1862, early realist painter.

Hutchings, James--Organized the first tourist group in 1855, set up a hotel in the valley, and extolled its wonders through his magazine, Hutchings' Illustrated California Magazine.  He owned the sawmill where Muir worked. 

Johnson, Robert Underwood--1880s, working with Muir through his Century Magazine, he helped get the areas around Yosemite Valley made a National Park in 1890.

Keith, William--1868, after a trip with Muir, he began painting in the grand realism style.

King, Clarence--1860s, wrote Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada, 1872, a great example of early frontier literature.

King, Thomas Starr, Rev.--1860, a Unitarian pastor, he was the first person with a national audience to push to make Yosemite a public park.                                                                                                                                         

Lamon, JC--1859, first settler to live in the valley year round, planted apple trees that can still be seen in the area of the Curry parking lot.

Lebrado, Maria--20th century, often referred to as the last of the Ahwahnechee.

LeConte, Joseph--1870, early geologist, contemporary of Muir who also saw a need to preserve the wilderness, although for utilitarian reasons.