Today in History: Yosemite
Today in History–June 30–the Library of Congress features Yosemite. On this day in 1865 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act, giving the valley and nearby Mariposa Big Tree Grove to California “upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation.” The area became a top tourist destination but towards the end of the century, there was support to return Yosemite to the federal government. In 1890, Yosemite National Park was established. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to access more primary resources about this spectacular natural treasure.
An act to set apart certain tracts of land in the State of California as forest reservations
More historical legislation related to Yosemite
Historical newspaper articles about George (Melendez) Wright
Modern-day legislation related to Yosemite
Topics in Chronicling America – Yosemite National Park: Path to Conservation
More historical newspaper coverage of Yosemite
Yosemite periodical articles
- “The Yosemite Valley, California” Harper’s New Monthly Magazine Volume 32, Issue 192, May 1866
- “Yosemite Guide-Book” The North American Review Volume 110, Issue 226, January 1870
- “A Visit to the Great Yosemite” Scribners Monthly, an illustrated magazine for the people Volume 2, Issue 4, Aug 1871
- “The Wonders of the West – I: The Big Trees and the Yosemite” Scribners Monthly, an illustrated magazine for the people Volume 3, Issue 3, Jan 1872
- “The Yosemite Hermit” The Galaxy Volume 23, Issue 6, June 1877
- “Yosemite Valley” The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 39, Issue 3, Jan 1890
- “Yosemite Valley. Letters from Visitors” The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 39, Issue 3, Jan 1890
- “The Treasures of the Yosemite” by John Muir The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 40, Issue 4, Aug 1890
- “Amateur Management of the Yosemite Scenery” The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 40, Issue 5, Sept 1890
- “Features of the Proposed Yosemite National Park” The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 40, Issue 5, Sept 1890
- “The Date of the Discovery of Yosemite” The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 40, Issue 5, Sept 1890
- “Gold Hunters of California. The Date of the Discovery of the Yosemite.” The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 41, Issue 2, Dec 1890
- “A Day in the Yosemite with a Kodak” The New England Magazine Volume 9, Issue 4, December 1890
- “California’s Interest in Yosemite Reform” The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 43, Issue 1, Nov 1891
- “The Proposed Recession of the Yosemite Valley” The Century; a popular quarterly Volume 45, Issue 6, Apr 1893
- “Among the Animals of the Yosemite” The Atlantic Monthly Volume 82, Issue 493, November 1898
- “The Yosemite National Park” The Atlantic Monthly Volume 84, Issue 502, August 1899
- “The Forests of Yosemite Park” The Atlantic Monthly Volume 85, Issue 510, April 1900
- “The Wild Gardens of the Yosemite Park” The Atlantic Monthly Volume 86, Issue 514, August 1900
- “Fountains and Streams of the Yosemite” The Atlantic Monthly Volume 87, Issue 522, Apr 1901
Yosemite Valley Grant Act from America’s Library