Galen Clark – Guardian of Yosemite (1814-1910)

December 3, 2016

Galen Clark is probably Yosemite’s most influential person. He gave Yosemite his heart and soul constantly for over 50 years; more time than any two other, more famous characters of Yosemite’s first years. So why isn’t he better known?

James Mason Hutchings – Revisited

November 24, 2016

James Hutchings was probably the biggest promoter of Yosemite in the early days. He was hardly in the forefront of Yosemite’s evolution, but he was there and with recurring frequency. I posted a mini-biography on him last January.

James D. Savage – Update

Savage Landmark
November 17, 2016

I have discovered a new source of detail of James D. Savage’s life. This post shares some of the background.

Falling in Yosemite

Autumn Chapel By Jeff Kreider
November 9, 2016

Capturing the Fall Foliage in the Valley is difficult because it is difficult from me to get there without a lot of planning. To find the color in the Valley to coincide with may actual stay has been problematical. The Grand Puh-Bah of my efforts came to fruition in October of 2006.

Thomas Hill – Artist (1829-1908)

October 21, 2016

Thomas Hill’s Studio still stands at Wawona at, what is now called, The Big Trees Lodge. It is a monument to an extraordinary artist renowned in is own time and to the present.

Remembering the Old Yosemite Village

October 13, 2016

I took a friend through the valley and Wawona for her first visit since 1956. A lot of changes have occurred in the last 60 years.

The National Park Service and Yosemite

August 19, 2016

The first National Park, Yellowstone, was created in 1872. By 1916, there had been 11 other National Parks already created when the National Park Service, itself, was created on August 25 of that year. It seems the National Park Service came late to the party. What’s up with that?