Category: History

  • Secret Yosemite – DVD

    I just bought the DVD of the National Geographic show “Secret Yosemite”. It was broadcast this summer and is now available from the usual video outlets.  I recommend it for all us Half Dome groupies. My only complaint is the narrator they used. He tries to sound like James Earl Jones (Darth Vader) and over…

  • Photo of the Day: Hetch Hetchy by Jared Kelly

    Most people think of [O’Shaughnessy Dam] as being a behemoth that holds back the Tuolumne keeping [Hetch Hetchy] Valley submerged beneath hundreds of feet of water. Jared Kelly has managed to catch a different side of the dam in today’s Photo of the Day showing what a beautiful place Hetch Hetchy still is even though…

  • Yosemite in the News: 1870-1913

    The New York Times has made scans of early articles avaialble for free. A quick search of “Yosemite” turned up some interesting results between 1870 and 1913: 1870 A letter to the editor from one of the people who’d settled in Yosemite before 1864 when the valley was taken over by the state of California…

  • A Mysterious Keepsake

    Retro Traveler (aka Kolby) on Flickr posted this photo of a Yosemite key chain his grandfather cherished and left him when he passed away. Barring the sentimental reasons his grandfather may have associated with it, maybe one of the Yosemite Blog readers might have some insight into the significance of such a keychain. It appears…

  • The Ahwahnee Celebrates 80th Birthday

    Visitors to Yosemite know The Ahwahnee as well as they know Half Dome and Yosemite Falls and why not, it’s a beautiful piece of architecture. This year marks a special occasion as The Ahwahnee turns 80. UnionDemocrat.com: “What started out 80 years ago as a way to attract influential lawmakers and wealthy San Franciscans to…

  • Royal Robbins: Highlights Of His High Life

    Growing up in Modesto California you couldn’t help but be familiar with Royal Robbins, one of the innovators of big wall climbing in Yosemite. In fact, Royal and wife Liz’s clothing was for a long time a favorite among locals. I still have a couple of pair of Blue Water shorts. Those things last forever.…

  • Bring History to Life with the Yosemite Theatre

    One of the great experiences of Yosemite you’ll not want to miss is the Yosemite Theater. This season Lee Stetson portrays John Muir in three shows a week; “Conversations with a Tramp” play on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the theater behind the Visitor’s Center, and on Sunday nights attend a Campfire chat at the Happy…

  • Video: Introduction To Yosemite from OpenRoad.TV

    Here’s a great introductory video from OpenRoad.tv with Doug McConnel. I really like their presentations and I’m glad they’re on YouTube. Watch and enjoy.

  • Check this Out: Annual Yosemite Indian Big Time June 16-17

    If you’re in Yosemite Valley this weekend be sure to check out the annual Yosemite Indian Big Time at the Indian Village June 16th and 17th. There will be Indian crafts and traditional cultural activities, games and dancing. This is a very special even that few National Parks enjoy. So stop by the Indian Village…

  • In the Footsteps of John Muir

    Having been born and raised in the area I’ve always been keen on the idea of retracing John Muir’s original route into Yosemite but always get lost in the Greeley Hill-Coulterville area where his route becomes more cross country. For Donna and Peter Thomas though the dream is now a reality as the Santa Cruz…