Yosemite National Park - A Patriot's Journey
In 1810, English poet William Wordsworth described a “sort of national property in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy”. Painter George Catlin, in his travels though the American West, wrote in 1832 that the Native Americans in the United States might be preserved “by some great protecting policy of government … in a magnificent park … A nation’s park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature’s beauty!”
Years later, in 1864, the first steps toward creating what would later become our national park system were set in motion by Congress and President Abraham Lincoln. Yosemite Valley, seen as an important national treasure, was set aside by the federal government and ceded to the state of California. In doing so, it was agreed that the state would preserve these lands for public use, resort and recreation, and that no corporate development would be allowed in the protected lands. Eight years later, Yosemite Valley, along with Yellowstone, became the world’s first National Parks.
Dawn and I are fortunate to live close enough to Yosemite for regular treks. With each visit, we marvel at its splendor, its magnificence, its massive beauty. Its sheer enormity provides a cornucopia of hiking and photographic opportunities, far more than we could hope to experience in a single lifetime.
It’s been said that one cannot visit Yosemite and not feel closer to his creator. For us, it’s true.
This is a Patriot’s Journey post. Remember to check out the other Patriotic Journeyers: Drumwaster, The Bastage, the folks at The Line Is Here and Shortbus from The Edge of Reason…
Doug
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Awesome! Why don't my pictures come out like this?
Breathtaking!
I enjoy the series and have bookmarked all the "journeyers" so as to keep up on your patriotic quest. Bravo!
Not to split hairs, but Wikipedia says that Yellowstone was our first National Park.
Well, not exactly. President Andrew Jackson signed legislation to set aside four sections of land around what is now Hot Springs, Arkansas to protect the natural thermal springs and adjoining mountainsides for the future disposal of the US government. It was then known as the Hot Springs Reservation. However, no legal authority was established and federal control of the area was not clearly established until 1877.
While it may have been "established" as a national park in 1872, but the land was then part of a territory. Unlike Yosemite, there was no state government that could assume stewardship of the land, so the federal government took on direct responsibility for the park, a process formally completed in late 1890.
So technically, Yosemite preceded Yellowstone.
Doug
Spectacular view! Says it all!
Jack says we can go next year! How exciting! We have talked about seeing some of our national parks and now it is a commitment! What is the best time to be there and where should we stay?
Great shot, bet you wished there were some interesting clouds but we can't always get absolute perfection, right?
Perfect!
Yes, we are extremely lucky to have our National Parks. I have visited Grand Teton, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Arches. Yosemite and Yellowstone are on the radar this year and next!
The Parks are amazing. What beauty our nation's early explorers encountered as they crossed the wilderness! Today many of our cities are besieged with smog and overcrowding, but thanks to the wisdom and forward thinking of some of our ancestors, we have managed to preserve some of our most pristine areas for the enjoyment of future generations!
omg that is beautiful! i was just there last August and it was hot and it didn't look like this! obviously that was the wrong time to go! we still had a great time though and we will definitely go back when it is cooler and less crowded. but even in summer it is really beautiful!
Clearly Fall, my favorite time of year except for Spring! Beautiful!
We are blessed to have our national parks and it seems most people agree judging by the Summer crowds. I would recommend visiting in May before school gets out for great waterfalls and in the fall for great color as shown in this image.
Winter is magnificent as well!
I've photographed Yosemite in summer, fall (this is a fall image) and spring but I'm told by one of our local professional photographers that it's great, albeit different, during every season. I'll admit, I'm anxious to try it during winter.
I've seen some of his work. Wonderful! I hope to go on a shoot with him sometime this year or next. Meanwhile, if he'll allow, I'll post some examples of his work.
Doug