Special Interest
One of the most interesting things about this national park is its history.
The first to live in Yosemite valley for generations was the Ahawahneechee until European Americans had entered in 1851. The natives had a rich culture and were frequent traders with the tribes on the eastern side of the Sierra. Most early travelers had been challenged by the rugged terrain. During the 1850s to the 1860s the only way into the valley was by horseback or stagecoach. In 1855 the first tourists had visited Yosemite.
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In 1864, Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite grant protecting Yosemite valley. On October 1,1890 US Congress set aside more than 1500sq miles of reserved forest lands known as Yosemite National Park. Today the park holds the rank as one of the "crown jewels" of national parks and has historic mining sites from miners who came for gold.
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Video talks about the parks history:
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