1851. Mariposa Battalion discovered Yosemite Valley from
Inspiration Point, March 25. Name “Yosemite Valley” applied.
1855. J. M. Hutchings organized first party of sightseers to
enter Yosemite Valley.
1856. “Lower Hotel”, first permanent structure, built by Walworth
and Hite at base of Sentinel Rock.
1858. Cedar Cottage built; still in use.
1864. Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Trees granted to
California as a State park.
1868. John Muir made his first trip to Yosemite.
1871. Conway started work on Four-Mile Trail to Glacier Point.
Finished in 1872.
1874. Coulterville Road built to Valley floor. Big Oak Flat route
completed to Yosemite Valley.
1875. Wawona Road built to floor of Yosemite Valley.
1876. Sentinel Hotel built.
1881. Tunnel cut through Wawona Tree.
1882. Tioga Road constructed. John Conway built Glacier Point
Road.
1890. Yosemite National Park created October 1.
1891. Capt. A. E. Wood, first park superintendent, arrived with
Federal troops to administer park, May 17. Headquarters at
Wawona.
1899. Camp Curry established.
1900. Holmes Brothers, of San Jose, drove first automobile (a
Stanley Steamer) into Yosemite over the Wawona Road.
1906. Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove receded to United
States. Superintendent’s headquarters (Maj. H. C. Benson,
superintendent) moved to Yosemite Valley.
1907. Yosemite Valley Railroad opened for travel to El Portal.
Visitors, 7,102.
1913. Automobiles admitted to Yosemite Valley.
1914. Civilian employees replaced military in administration of
park. Visitors, 15,154.
1915. Stephen T. Mather purchased Tioga Road; presented it to
Federal Government.
1916. National Park Service Act passed August 25.
1917. Stephen T. Mather made Director of the National Park
Service. Glacier Point Hotel built and opened.
1919. First airplane landed in Yosemite Valley, May 27, Lt. J. S.
Krull, pilot, alone.
1920. Construction started on All-Year Highway up Merced Canyon.
Visitors, 68,906.
1923. Hikers’ camps installed. Visitors, 130,046.
1924. New administration center and village developed.
1925. Yosemite Park & Curry Co. formed by consolidation of Curry
Camping Co. and Yosemite National Park Co. Park visitors,
209,166.
1926. All-Year Highway completed and dedicated July 31.
1927. Ahwahnee Hotel opened by Yosemite Park & Curry Co. The
second largest travel year in park history—490,430 visitors.
1930. Reconstruction of log cabin in Mariposa Grove to house
Museum of Big Trees. Park visitors, 458,566.
1931. Construction of 4,233-foot tunnel through Turtleback Dome
for new Wawona Road.
1932. Wawona basin of 14 square miles added to the park. New
Wawona Road and tunnel completed. Big Trees Lodge
constructed. Largest travel year in park history—498,289
visitors.