Yosemite Act (1864)

Abraham Lincoln himself signed this bill into law on June 30, 1864 making Yosemite Valley a public land to be enjoyed by all Americans. Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States of America and signed this bill just a year before his assassination in April of 1865. The main focus of the Act is to “upon the express condition that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation.” Additionally, the Act includes the Big Tree Grove into the preserved land. This source will serve as the beginning of the preservation of Yosemite and the direct intention of President Lincoln to protect the land. I found this source on the Sierra Club website. The club is an environmental organization created by John Muir a renowned environmentalist during the late 1800s.

Tunnel Through a Sequoia Tee, Yosemite (1899) 

This photograph shows a stagecoach hauling several people through a sequoia tree riding in Yosemite National Park in 1899. Charles C. Pierce took this picture for the intention of all Americans to see the “unnatural” beauty of Yosemite and attract visitors. Although the Park Service does not allow the cutting of trees in the park, this tunnel is still in operation today. This photograph highlights the destruction of nature by man to serve the will of the people. This source can be found at the Digital Library of America.

Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, Yosemite Valley, California (1903)

This photograph was taken in 1903 on Glacier Point in Yosemite Valley while Theodore Rosevelt and John Muir joined to camp in Yosemite. The intended audience for this picture was for people interested in the preservation of the parks and for fans of both Muir and Rosevelt. The main point of this image is to portrait the active discussions between Muir and Rosevelt to preserve Yosemite. Rosevelt contacted Muir and asked if he would john Rosevelt on an exploration of the park. The only request was they would set their politics aside. Both of these figures have a major influence on this project and the national park system as a whole. One can find this source at the Library of Congress website.