a s ense of p lace


DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE V ALLEY 

PREP ARED BY


THE N A TIO N AL P ARK SERV I C E 


Y OSEMITE N A TIO N AL P ARK


CALIFORNIA


D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

MAN-MADE STRUCTURES C AN SC ARCEL Y ADD T O Y OSEMITE’S MA TCHLESS BEAUTY . 


R A THER WE MUST STRIVE THA T THEY NEITHER INTRUDE 


UPON THIS SPLENDOR NOR SEEM T O RIV AL IT IN PERMANENCE.


H ILMER OEHLMANN • GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CURR Y COMP A NY 


A T DEDIC A TION OF Y OSEMITE LODGE • JUNE 1956

4 NPS

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D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

CONTENTS


FOREW ORD 7


INTR ODUCTION 1
1

Y OSEMITE V ALLEY 23


HIST O R Y OF DEVELOPMENT 


IN Y OSEMITE NA TIONAL P ARK 33


UNIFYING ELEMENTS + GUIDELINES 


FOR Y OSEMITE V ALLEY 51


Y OSEMITE VILLAGE 95


CURR Y VILLAGE 119


THE AHW AHNEE 141


Y OSEMITE LODGE 149


C AMP AREAS 


Campgrounds 165


Camp 4 169


Housekeeping Camp 172


D A Y -US E + TRANSIT AREAS 


Day-Use Areas 177


Indian Cultural Center 180


LeConte Memorial Lodge 183


Happy Isles 186


Shuttle Bus Stops 190


ENDNO TES


Glossary 195


Bibliography 199


Preparers + Reviewers 203


Index 204


PAGE 2 Sentinel Rock (1945) YRL -RA 

OPPOSITE Nevada Fall (1938) YRL-RA 

NPS � 

D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

FOREW ORD 

J OHN J . REYNOLDS • NA TIONAL P ARK SER VICE 

I FIRST came to Yosemite in an official capacity in 1975. I was team 

captain for what was to become known as the “1980 Yosemite General 

Management Plan.” It was a time of great controversy about the park, so 

much so that 62,000 people participated in the planning process. I shall 

never forget the headline in Rolling Stone that blared “Why Are They 

Golfing in the Cathedral?” 

Rolling Stone weighing in about a national park? Unbelievable! 

But it happened. The “cathedral” was (and is) Yosemite Valley. 

“Golfing” referred to the since removed 9-hole pitch-and-putt course 

then in place behind The Ahwahnee. 

the quest, the never-ending quest, in yosemite is for an almost spiritual or superhuman quality in decisions about preserving and enjoying it. it is less a place than 

an experience. every detail counts— not just a little, but a lot. this is the challenge 

of design of anything in yosemite, be it the valley or any other place in the park. 

yosemite— its aura, its unique place in our minds and souls— demands the ultimate 

in respect for what nature made and the awe it imparts. 

The headline has stuck with me ever since as I have engaged in the 

great on-going intellectual and ethical adventure and struggle of what to do, 

and not to do, in Yosemite National Park. 

“Cathedral” almost universally denotes extraordinary beauty and 

connection to a creating spirit. Yosemite evokes the same feelings of quality 

and connectivity to a greater life force, a greater reason for being. It is a 

sacred place, to many the most sacred symbol of sublimity and beauty 

anywhere in the world. 

“Golfing” in such a place often connotes or symbolizes a level of 

separation dividing mankind from nature that could hardly be more stark 

unless it were industrial. The contradiction between golfing and cathedral 

OPPOSITE El Capitan (1938) YRL-OW 

7
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

in my experience with Yosemite Valley defines more clearly than any other metaphor the roots 

of controversy and feeling that are the basis for discussion about everything that happens or is 

proposed to happen in Yosemite. 

The quest, the never-ending quest, in Yosemite is for an almost spiritual or super-human 

quality in decisions about preserving and enjoying it. It is less a place than an experience. Every 

detail counts—not just a little, but a lot. This is the challenge of design of anything in Yosemite, 

be it the Valley or any other place in the park. Yosemite—its aura, its unique place in our 

minds and souls—demands the ultimate in respect for what nature made and the awe it imparts. 

During the first 100 or so years of the existence of national parks, design professionals 

worked entire public service careers perfecting what was appropriate design in national parks. 

They learned by being immersed in the natural feel of the place. They came to know and 

respond to the rhythms and patterns nature imparts, unique to each place yet as related as 

trees and flowers, birds and bears, air and water are related one to another. These professionals 

dedicated their working lifetimes to creating the design ethics for which the National Park 

Service was and is known worldwide. 

That cadre of public service professionals dedicated to studying and designing in 

response to the parks themselves no longer exists. Those who remain mostly manage the 

contracts and expectations of the private contractors hired from afar to do the work. 

And so the need for this marvelous and essential book, A Sense of Place: Design Guidelines 

for Yosemite Valley. Its reason for being is to pass on at least the basics of the special and unique 

considerations that undergird excellence of design in Yosemite. It is a humbling undertaking, 

striving to convey to landscape architects, architects, and engineers the beginning basics they 

need to be sensitive to in Yosemite. 

Very often in our culture as places develop, we lose our sense of place. We lose the sights, 

sounds, smells that most positively impressed us as children. The farsighted men who wrote 

and passed the act creating the National Park Service understood that Americans would need 

places that were touchstones of their existence as a culture, places where wildness and history 

are paramount. More and more the national parks are the symbols for our national history and 

natural identity. Reverence and excellence in the stewardship and development of national 

parks is part of America’s heritage. 

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F OREW ORD 

A Sense of Place raises the standards for the next generation of designers. These Design 

Guidelines require designers to absorb the essence of Yosemite and employ that understanding 

in their work. Only then will the resulting design become worthy of Yosemite. 

In closing, I am compelled to make a personal comment. I was given the gift of working 

for the future of Yosemite in many ways off and on for nearly 30 years. My experience in striving 

to give equal to what I got from working in and on Yosemite has compelled me to constantly 

question what more I could do to protect national parks and open them to the hearts of visitors. 

I am deeply and emotionally indebted to the authors of these Guidelines and the leadership of 

Yosemite National Park for giving me the opportunity to write a Foreword for it. If those of 

you who use this book will open yourselves to the same opportunity for growth that Yosemite 

gave to me, then you will be worthy of attempting to design for this most wonderful of places. 

You must do so with the absolute humility that you have been afforded an opportunity that 

only a very few will have. You must “buy into” the idea that you are important to Yosemite 

only insofar as your work deeply and honestly reflects what Yosemite is itself. Your design will 

affect millions of visitors who come to experience Yosemite. If it detracts in any way, you will 

have golfed in the cathedral. If it is true to Yosemite, you will have joined the eternal chorus. 

john j. reynolds 

Retired, National Park Service 

Fellow, American Society of Landscape Architects 

February 2004 

John J. Reynolds had a long and distinguished career in the National Park Service. During his 39 years 

of service, he served as Deputy Director of the National Park Service, Regional Director of the Pacific West 

and Mid-Atlantic Regions, Manager of the Denver Service Center, Superintendent of North Cascades 

National Park, and Assistant Superintendent of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. In 

addition to these positions, he spent 15 years as a Landscape Architect/Planner, during which he was Team 

Captain for the studies leading to the establishment of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and Kobuk Valley 

National Park in Alaska, and was Team Captain of the Yosemite General Management Plan. He led the 

United States Delegation to the World Heritage Committee for 3 years. As Manager of the Denver Service 

Center, Reynolds began the sustainability movement in the National Park Service, leading the effort to 

publish the book “Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design.” 

9 

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D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

INTR ODUCTION


YOSEMITE VALLEY is unlike any place in the world. Its breathtaking scenery has inspired 

many to describe this masterpiece of nature as “the Incomparable Valley.” This extraordinary 

setting exhibits a grand assemblage of natural wonders composed of immense sculptured 

rockforms, thundering waterfalls, and serene parklike setting. Cliffs climb to 4,000 feet high, 

while soaring granite monoliths and a multitude of domes rim the Valley. It features some of 

the tallest waterfalls in the world, including Yosemite Falls which appears to leap from the sky 

as it descends almost half a mile to the Valley floor. Millions from around the globe have made 

the pilgrimage to experience its wonders. Its sublime beauty has galvanized preservationists 

and inspired painters, poets, and photographers. Yosemite struck John Muir as the “sanctum 

sanctorum of the Sierra” and “the grandest of all the special temples of Nature.” John Muir 

felt that in Yosemite Valley, “Nature had gathered her choicest treasures” into this one 

mountain mansion. “No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite,” he exalted. 

For thousands of years, humans have dwelled within Yosemite with the last 150 years 

witnessing the influence by nonnatives upon this landscape. It was the first natural area set 

aside by the federal government for protection of outstanding scenery and has served as 

profound inspiration for preservation philosophy in American history. Managed as a park 

since 1864, Yosemite Valley is a landscape that displays many years of complex interplay in 

the environment between the natural and human made. As a place set apart, this singular 

setting continues to evoke reverence and awe by all who visit. 

How do people build upon what many consider as sacred ground? This has been an 

ongoing challenge for all who have designed facilities in the Valley. Within this grand setting, 

people have over the years created a built environment to protect and to facilitate enjoyment 

by generations of visitors. Complementing the natural setting, hundreds of historic structures, 

several historic districts, and the overall cultural landscape have become part of the total 

Valley identity and visitor experience. The National Park Service recognizes that in order to 

uphold Yosemite Valley as a special place, development must be designed to be compatible 

and respectful of the park setting, both natural and human-made. 

OPPOSITE Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge (1942) YRL-RA 

11 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Today, as park managers continue to influence and build upon the environment of 

Yosemite Valley, there is the desire to “harmonize” with the landscape. These Design 

Guidelines have been developed to document, interpret, and understand what humans have 

already built within the Valley in order to provide careful direction for future designs compatible 

with the surroundings. The ultimate goal is to enhance the unique sense of place embodied by 

this extraordinary Valley. 

PURPOSE 

These Design Guidelines are intended to provide a framework for deciding appropriateness of 

architectural and landscape character of new buildings, site work, and alterations. Based on 

the assumption that the most accomplished and creative practitioners will be tasked with the 

sensitive requirements of working within this setting, these guidelines go beyond basic universal 

principles of good design and focus on the “character” qualities that are reflected and contribute 

to the distinctiveness of Yosemite Valley. 

When visitors come to see and experience the magnificent natural beauty of Yosemite, 

a large part of their stay and activities often occur within developed areas of the park. Their 

experiences are affected, adversely or positively, by the character and quality of the developed 

areas. What the guidelines endeavor to avoid is a haphazard, piecemeal approach to facility 

development which creates visual clutter or incoherence in the Valley. Inconsistent design and 

disregard for the existing context can detract from the visitor experience. Ultimately, Yosemite 

Valley architecture and landscapes have a significant impact on how visitors perceive, use, and 

remember the park. At its best, appropriate design provides a special human setting in which 

the values of the park are clarified and reinforced. 

Developments in the Valley must complement the natural and historic setting, blending 

in as though a part of it, but at the same time they must be distinctive to emphasize the special 

nature of the place. New facilities should be designed in a way that establishes a continuity 

with the most successful design elements of the past; there should be a respectful consistency 

between old and new. The resulting built environments should enrich and become part of the 

evolving poetry of the Yosemite Valley landscape. 

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Lower Yosemite Fall comfort station 

under construction (2004) RF 

In general, the goals of the Design Guidelines include: 

• Retention of natural site character, including setting, materials, and ecological processes 

• Design new buildings and facilities to blend with the natural environment, emphasizing 

non-intrusive design. They are sensitive to the environmental capacity of the site to absorb 

modifications. Facilities fit in with their sites rather than dominate them. Buildings are 

subordinate to the environment 

• Compatibility of structures and facilities with the cultural context and character in which 

they are located and protection of cultural integrity 

• Coordination and integration of the design of individual structures with those of the site 

plan as a whole 

• Enhancement of unifying architectural and landscape themes and elements within defined 

areas and throughout Yosemite Valley 

• Emphasis on simplicity and restraint in design and respect for past building character, 

traditions, and practices 

• Recognition of the principles of rustic design used by previous designers, identification of 

those which retain validity today, and contemporary interpretation of those principles 

The Design Guidelines should assist park staff and designers make informed and 

consistent decisions as facilities are planned, designed, constructed, modified, and maintained. 

They provide background information on the development and most important design characteristics of the built environment. The detailed guideline sections provide direction as to 

which design strategies and themes may be suitable for particular areas. These recommendations 

recognize that neither buildings nor the landscape setting can be treated separately. Both are 

closely interrelated and need to be viewed in an integrated fashion in order to attain a more 

complete solution. 

Successful implementation of these Design Guidelines will contribute to the fulfillment 

of overall park goals of preservation and visitor enjoyment. The results should be buildings 

and landscapes that fit in with the natural surroundings and relate respectfully to the existing 

cultural landscape of Yosemite Valley. What is added to the setting should provide visual 

unity and further enrich the visitor experience. The resulting built environment, which 

becomes part of this magnificent setting, should ultimately enhance the remarkable sense of 

place within Yosemite Valley. 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Stone wall under construction at 

Lower Yosemite Fall area (2004) RF 

HOW TO USE THE DESIGN GUIDELINES 

These Design Guidelines are a reference to direct and shape the efforts of future architects, 

planners, landscape architects, concessioners, administrators, maintenance personnel, design 

review staff, and park management as they work to create contextually and environmentally 

appropriate structures and landscapes. The Design Guidelines will be utilized by park management, becoming part of a project review process that will define design character as design 

solutions for buildings and site work are proposed. 

These guidelines are provided to insure that park facilities are designed to be compatible 

with the existing resources. The objective is to develop Valleywide themes which are interwoven 

into specific guidelines for each area of the Valley and in harmony with the existing resources. 

Park management can use this manual to reinforce broad visual concepts for the Valley. A 

designer can translate the broad Valley and area themes into decisions and details for planning 

and design. The guidelines also can provide a basis to guide design and maintenance decisions 

by park staff and designers which will be uniform over time. 

The descriptions of the settings within Yosemite Valley and guidelines contained 

within this document are organized to convey the following topics: 

• The natural and cultural environment of Yosemite Valley 

• Overarching and unifying Valleywide design principles and architectural themes 

• Significant development zones or areas in Yosemite Valley with associated different qualities, 

character, and function 

• Significant or dominant characteristics and site-specific characteristics within each unique 

geographic area, including common elements and unique details and features 

• Resource sensitivities, compatibility issues, contextual issues, historical patterns, unifying 

elements, and site-specific, distinctive architectural characteristics 

• Guidelines to encourage compatible and unified development within the natural and 

cultural setting 

This reference is not meant to provide direction in every facet of the visual image of 

the Valley. Nor is it meant to be a substitute for comprehensive design work by professionals 

or serve to provide for every decision by park management and maintenance personnel. It 

can serve, however, as a tool to tie the varying areas of the Valley together into a compatible 

visual whole. 

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I NTR ODUCTIO N 

in the construction of roads, trails, buildings, and other improvements, 

particular attention must be devoted always to the harmonizing of 

these improvements with the landscape. 1918 NPS STATEMENT OF POLICY 

While protecting recognized values, these Design Guidelines should allow sufficient 

flexibility to accommodate changing times, circumstances, and technologies. The guidelines 

should be aides to decision-making, rather than prescriptions or formulas. Except where mandated by specific park zoning prescriptions (i.e., The Merced Wild and Scenic Comprehensive 

Management Plan), it is not intended to be so rigid as to stifle creative expression and reinterpretation of existing design themes and detailing. The criteria provided avoid absolutes and 

are intended more as recommendations rather than requirements. 

AGENCY POLICIES + STANDARDS 1 

Management Policies 

Familiarity and understanding of existing National Park Service policies and standards 

will assist designers in the implementation of the Design Guidelines. Many of these policies 

articulate the philosophy of the National Park Service as to how the built environment will 

protect natural and cultural resources and enhance visitor enjoyment of these resources. The 

key document Management Policies 2001 provides direction under Park Facilities which echoes 

the purposes and intent of the Design Guidelines. 

Facilities will be integrated into the park landscape and environs with sustainable designs and 

systems to minimize environmental impact. Development will not compete with or dominate 

park features, or interfere with natural processes...If a cohesive design theme is desired, 

recommended or required, the theme will reflect the purpose and character of the park, 

or, in a large park, of an individual developed area. management policies 2001 

Similar to the National Park Service Statement of Policy in 1918 by Stephen T. Mather, 

it elaborates further when it states, 

Designs for park facilities, regardless of their origin (NPS, contractor, concessioner, or 

other), will be harmonious with and integrated into the park environment. They will also be 

subject, throughout all phases of design and construction, to the same code compliance; the 

same high standards of sustainable design, “universal design,” and functionality; and the 

same review and approval process. management policies 2001 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

The most important statutory directive for the National Park Service is provided by 

interrelated provisions of the NPS Organic Act of 1916, and the NPS General Authorities Act 

of 1970. The key management-related provision of the Organic Act is: 

[The National Park Service] shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known 

as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified...by such means and 

measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the 

wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such 

means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. 

Accordingly, the Management Policies directs that “the impairment of park resources 

and values may not be allowed by the Service unless directly and specifically provided for by 

legislation or by the proclamation establishing the park.” It is important for the planner or 

designer in conjunction with park management to produce designs that would not harm the 

integrity of park resources or values, including the opportunities that otherwise would be 

present for the enjoyment of those resources or values. 

All development must be accomplished in accordance with applicable codes and accepted 

standards. This is a federal area and so designers should consult with the National Park Service 

on which codes are most currently adopted by the agency. 

Sustainability 

Sustainability is an approach that recognizes that every 

design choice has an impact on the natural and cultural 

resources of not only the local environment, but also 

regional and global environments. As an agency whose 

central mission is the protection of both the natural 

and cultural resources entrusted to it, sustainability is 

an integral part of the National Park Service’s design 

and management philosophy. The agency has an obligation, as well as a unique opportunity, to demonstrate 

leadership in environmental stewardship. The National 

Park Service must lead by example for not only a local, 

but a worldwide audience. The Ahwahnee and Half Dome (1941) YRL-RA 

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Curry Village tent cabins 

(2004) RF 

Sustainable design concepts should be incorporated in new construction and alterations 

to historic structures. This is design that seeks to minimize long-term impacts to the earth’s 

environment through strategies such as adaptive reuse, recycling, reducing material and water 

consumption, energy efficiency, life cycle cost analysis, long-term operations, maintainability, 

and using vernacular or local methods, materials, products, and crafts. 

Helpful resources would include the National Park Service publication Guiding Principles 

of Sustainable Design, federal and state energy conservation requirements, and the U.S. Green 

Building Council Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design program referred to as LEED. For 

larger projects, the National Park Service has used the LEED process to evaluate, rank and 

make decisions as part of the design process in order to optimize levels of sustainability. 

Historic Structures + Landscapes 

Rehabilitation and maintenance of buildings currently listed or eligible to be listed on the 

National Register of Historic Places are covered by existing NPS policy (Director’s Order #28 ) 

and regulations of the National Historic Preservation Act which include the Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. 

Most of Yosemite Valley, including all of the individually recognized historic districts 

and sites, is included within the boundaries of the larger Yosemite Valley Historic District. 

Many of the existing historic structures and site design features are contributing elements to 

the historic district which provides further recognition and protection for the cultural landscape. 

Planners and designers need to be cognizant of the significance of the contributing elements 

as they propose changes to the setting. 

A cultural landscape is defined as a geographic area, including both cultural and natural 

elements, associated with a historic event, activity, or person, or exhibiting other cultural or 

aesthetic values. Yosemite Valley is a significant cultural landscape of national importance 

associated with the history of wilderness and scenic protection. 

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties provides 

historic preservation guidance to anyone with responsibility for the management and protection of historic resources, including park managers, contractors and project reviewers, prior 

to and during the planning and implementation of all project work. Since Yosemite Valley is 

17 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Vernal Fall (2002) RF 

eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic 

Places, the Secretary’s Standards apply to all new 

construction, infill, add-ons, modifications, and replacement of all buildings, structures and other associated 

landscape features within the Valley.

2 

For new construction in historic areas, a key 

standard to be cognizant of is “New additions, exterior 

alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy 

historic materials that characterize the property. The 

new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall 

be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of 

the property and its environment” (NPS 1995c). This 

requires a sensitive balance between new development 

that does not exactly mimic and yet is still compatible with the historic precedent. The average 

observer should be able to discern that the new construction is contemporary. 

Accessibility + Universal Design 

The National Park Service is committed to providing access to facilities and programs to as 

wide an audience as possible. Its policies on accessibility are articulated in Director’s Order 

#42 —Accessibility for Park Visitors which states, 

The NPS will design, construct and operate all buildings and facilities so they are accessible 

to, and usable by, persons with disabilities to the greatest extent reasonable, in compliance 

with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards. This means that all new and altered 

buildings and facilities will be in conformance with appropriate design standards. 

One fundamental principle of this Director’s Order is that the National Park Service 

will seek to provide the highest level of accessibility that is reasonable, and not simply provide 

the minimum level that is required by law. It encourages the implementation of “universal 

design” principles where everyone enjoys the same form of access instead of providing separate 

or special facilities or programs. While a higher level of accessibility is encouraged, Management 

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Vernal Fall Bridge 

(2002) RF 

Policies does require a consideration of potential impairment to resources. For historic structures 

special consideration must be given to the historic integrity in accordance with the Secretary 

of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The standards followed by the 

Department of the Interior are the new Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard 

(ABAAS). An important reference for site design is the Access Board Outdoor Developed 

Area Guidelines. 

PLANNING CONTEXT 

Several existing plans provide broad direction for future development in the context of 

protecting resources and providing for the enjoyment of the park by visitors. In addition to 

establishing overall goals, the following plans describe parameters for development at specific 

locations within the park and Yosemite Valley. 

General Management Plan 

In the mid-1970s, the National Park Service began the comprehensive planning process that 

was completed in 1980 with the approval of the General Management Plan and Final Environmental 

Impact Statement. This plan provides basic management direction for Yosemite National Park, 

based on the 1916 Organic Act (the law that established the National Park Service), the park’s 

enabling legislation (the laws that established Yosemite National Park), and the 1958 act that 

established the El Portal Administrative Site. The 1980 General Management Plan established 

five broad goals to guide the management of Yosemite National Park and to perpetuate its 

natural splendor: 

• Reclaim priceless natural beauty • Markedly reduce traffic congestion 

• Allow natural processes to prevail • Reduce crowding 

• Promote visitor understanding and enjoyment 

In support of these goals, the General Management Plan includes several developed area 

plans, including the Yosemite Valley District, which proposes specific changes to the developed 

settings. These recommended changes include the removal or modification of roads, buildings, 

and landscapes and construction of some new facilities. 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

The Merced Wild + Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan 

In 1987, Congress designated the Merced River a Wild and Scenic River to protect the river’s 

free-flowing condition and protect and enhance the river’s unique values for the benefit and 

enjoyment of present and future generations. In 2000, the National Park Service signed the 

Record of Decision for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan (Merced 

River Plan). The Merced River Plan provides broad management direction for managing visitor 

use, land and facility development, and resource protection within the Merced River corridor. 

The goals of the Merced River Plan are consistent with both the General Management Plan goals 

and the requirements of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: 

• Protect and enhance river-related natural resources 

• Protect and restore natural hydrological and geomorphic processes 

• Protect and enhance river-related cultural resources 

• Provide diverse river-related recreational and educational experiences 

• Provide appropriate land uses 

Outstandingly Remarkable Values are defined as those characteristics that make the 

river worthy of special protection. Within the Valley, these values include scenic, geologic 

processes, recreation, biological, cultural, and hydrologic processes. Since many developed 

areas are within the Merced River corridor, it is imperative that any proposed changes to 

facilities abide by the values and the prescriptions of the Merced River Plan. 

Yosemite Valley Plan 

In addition to the five broad goals, the General Management Plan established a number of management objectives and proposed a host of specific actions. However, the General Management 

Plan recognized that new studies and analyses would be necessary to determine how best to 

accomplish its goals and objectives. Individual planning efforts, including plans for housing, 

restoration of areas to natural conditions, transportation, and visitor services, took on even 

greater urgency following the catastrophic flood of January 1997. The National Park Service 

consolidated four distinct planning projects together into one comprehensive planning effort for 

Yosemite Valley—the Yosemite Valley Plan. Approved in 2000, the Yosemite Valley Plan/Supplemental 

Environmental Impact Statement would implement many of the Yosemite Valley provisions found 

in the General Management Plan’s proposed action. While the 1980 General Management Plan 

addresses parkwide issues, the Yosemite Valley Plan focuses primarily on issues in Yosemite Valley. 

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Wawona Tunnel View,Tom Killion, woodcut print,1999 

The specific purposes of the Yosemite Valley Plan within Yosemite Valley are to: 

• Restore, protect, and enhance the resources of Yosemite Valley 

• Provide opportunities for high-quality, resource-based visitor experiences 

• Reduce traffic congestion 

• Provide effective park operations, including employee housing, to meet the mission of 

the National Park Service 

The Yosemite Valley Plan describes changes including adaptive reuse and the addition 

of new buildings to the historic setting. The Design Guidelines fulfill the intent of the 

Yosemite Valley Plan, which states, 

In general, changes to physical features and addition of new structures and facilities within 

the Valleywide cultural landscape would follow design guidelines consistent with the Secretary 

of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. In 

this manner, the potential for impacts resulting from addition of non-historic facilities 

would be reduced. 

1 National Park Service policy and standards documents can be accessed at www.nps.gov/yose/home.htm. 

2	 Literature based on the Secretary’s Standards has been developed to provide specific guidance related to the treatment of historic 

buildings and cultural landscapes and is available through the Government Printing Office. 

21 

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D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

Y OSEMITE V ALLEY


THE YOSEMITE VALLEY landscape is the result of a long and complex history of interactions 

between natural systems and human influences. Today it is the landscape record of one of 

the most ambitious and historically significant experiments in the preservation of “natural” 

scenery ever attempted. The Valley floor landscape as a whole is nationally significant in the 

themes of outdoor recreation, tourism, and conservation. Since 1864, Yosemite has been an 

archetype for the preservation of scenic places through their development as public parks. 

The cultural processes of defining sacred space, of turning land into landscape, and of 

making a wild place into a public park, have made Yosemite Valley one of the most culturally 

significant natural places in America. The significance of the cultural landscape of Yosemite 

cannot be described or assessed apart from its significance as a natural landscape. The 

distinction between what is natural and what is artificial is rarely clear in Yosemite Valley. 

The Valley floor landscape is a unity that combines the pastoral and the awesome, the cultural 

and the natural, the indian and the european, the past and the present. yosemite valley 

historic district nomination (nps 2004d) 

SETTING 

Yosemite Valley, the uniquely awesome and beautiful granite gorge in the Sierra Nevada range 

of California, is one of the most well known and iconic scenic places in the American West. 

It is perhaps the most famous glacially carved valley in the world. Within its modest seven 

square miles are what many consider to be the greatest concentration of natural wonders in 

the world. It boasts numerous waterfalls ranging from the windblown cascade of Bridalveil 

Fall to thundering Nevada and Vernal Falls as they drop over 900 feet total over two gigantic 

glacially carved granite steps. Yosemite Valley includes many of the highest waterfalls in the 

world (Medley 1994). Yosemite Falls, the highest falls on the continent, descends a total of 

2,425 feet. The Valley is bounded by sheer cliffs, spires, domes, and imposing granite monoliths. 

These include Half Dome, a massive dome with seemingly one side completely sheered off; 

and standing guard at the entrance to the Valley is El Capitan, attracting rock climbers from 

all over as it features one of the largest exposed granite cliff faces in the world. 

OPPOSITE Bridalveil Fall (1995) RF 

23 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

The unparalleled drama of these (and many other) features is set on a stage of serene 

and pastoral beauty. The dazzling juxtaposition of calm, park-like setting and nearly incomprehensible grandeur has made Yosemite one of the most visited, described, and depicted 

places in the world. Many have attested that descriptions and photographs are inadequate to 

fully convey the magnificence of the setting. “I sit in a kind of delicious dream, the scenery 

unconsciously mingling with my dream,” Joseph LeConte, University of California geology 

professor, rhapsodizes in his journal during his first trip in 1870. “I have heard and read much 

of this wonderful valley, but I can truly say I have never imagined the grandeur of the reality.” 

The Valley is set within the south central portion 

of Yosemite National Park located on the western 

slope of the central Sierra Nevada mountains, a great 

400-mile-long granite escarpment along the eastern 

edge of California. Oriented in an east-west direction, 

the Valley is about seven miles long and one-half to one 

mile in width. Elevations along the Valley floor range 

between 3,800 and 4,200 feet above sea level. The exceptionally sheer and nearly vertical walls of Yosemite 

Valley rise 1,500 to 4,000 feet from the almost level 

Valley floor. The Valley floor itself is a relatively flat 

floodplain, through which the Merced River winds, 

flanked by open meadows and forests of oaks and pines. 

Yosemite Valley was formed over a period of millions of years, first by the waters of the ancient Merced 

River as the Sierra Nevada mountains were uplifted and 

then by several advances of glaciers which scraped and 

carved away the weaker portions of the walls of the 

upper Merced River canyon. When the climate warmed 

and the glaciers receded, they left behind a U-shaped 

Valley with almost vertical sculpted granite walls rising Yosemite Falls from Yosemite Lodge 

24 NPS 
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REGIONAL MAP VICINITY MAP 
Y OSEMITE V ALLEY MAP


� 26

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Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

Post office at Yosemite Village against backdrop of Upper Yosemite Fall 

above a shallow Lake Yosemite. This ancient lake eventually filled with sediment to form the flat floodplain 

seen today. 

DEVELOPED AREAS 

Due to its unique scenic beauty and attraction to 

tourists, most of the development within Yosemite 

National Park has occurred within Yosemite Valley, 

particularly at the eastern end. Six main areas present 

the highest density of development and range of visitor 

facilities. They include Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite 

Village, The Ahwahnee, Housekeeping Camp, Curry 

Village, and the campground areas. 

Yosemite Village is the heart of visitor facilities 

in the Valley and is located at the northernmost edge of 

the developed valley, between Yosemite Lodge and The 

Ahwahnee. Northside Drive delineates the area boundary 

to the south, and the canyon walls bound the area to the north. The Village area is edged by 

the Ahwahnee Meadow, and by the easternmost channel of Yosemite Creek. The concentrated 

development in Yosemite Village accommodates a constant throng of visitors. It contains the 

main visitor center of the park, a museum, a recreated Indian village and garden, a historic 

cemetery, a medical clinic, commercial enterprises, food services, employee housing, recreation 

facilities, park and concessioner administrative offices, maintenance facilities, and institutional 

facilities such as an elementary school, a child care center, a magistrate court, a public garage, 

and a post office. Much of the western portion of Yosemite Village has been designated as 

the Yosemite Village Historic District which includes a neighborhood of rustic predominately 

single-family units, the park Administration Building, Museum, the Rangers’ Club, post office, 

and The Ansel Adams Gallery. 

27 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Sentinel Rock from Camp 4 with Big Columbine and Little Columbine in the foreground Southeast elevation of The Ahwahnee 

To the west of Yosemite Village within view of Yosemite Falls is Yosemite Lodge, the 

most contemporary lodging facility, largely built during the Mission 66 period. The Camp 4 

walk-in campground and the Lower Yosemite Fall area define much of the northern boundary. 

Yosemite Creek forms the eastern edge and to the south are fluctuating wetlands and floodplain. Developed over many years as a housing, lodging, and administrative center, Yosemite 

Lodge is comprised of a number of building clusters set in groves of trees and open meadow 

areas. These clusters include various lodging developments, a visitor-services and recreation 

complex containing both indoor and outdoor facilities, and a network of parking and circulation 

systems geared for pedestrians, vehicles, and bicycles. 

Nearby, below the talus slopes of the cliffs to the north, is Camp 4, an informal, walk-in 

campground which was recently designated as a National Historic Site in recognition of its 

influence on the development of rock climbing. Just west of Camp 4 is the site of the future 

Indian Cultural Center located at the historic site of the last Indian village in the Valley. 

The Ahwahnee is located in the northeastern section of Yosemite Valley, due east of 

Yosemite Village. This site is dominated by the 1920s-era hotel building, but also contains 

associated visitor bungalows, a dormitory building for personnel, recreation facilities, and 

parking and circulation networks related to the facility and adjacent grounds. The hotel is 

considered the prime example of a rustic grand lodge in a national park and has been designated 

as a National Historic Landmark. 

28 NPS
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Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

South of the Merced River, Curry Village and the more seasonal facilities of Housekeeping 

Camp, Lower and Upper Pines Campgrounds, and Happy Isles are located. Curry Village, 

historically known as “Camp Curry,” is located in the southeastern portion of Yosemite 

Valley, with Southside Drive and Stoneman Meadow bounding it on the north and the steeply 

sloped base of cliffs and talus below Glacier Point forming the southern edge. Curry Village 

first provided lodging for park visitors in 1899. Today Curry Village is a densely developed 

visitor services and lodging facility that incorporates recreation, circulation, and parking; and 

includes various lodging types, commercial facilities, and services. The predominant feature of 

the site is a cluster of several hundred tent cabins and simple wood cabins that dot the wooded 

area at the base of the talus slope. A large visitor services and administrative center containing 

shops, restaurants, recreational facilities, and an information kiosk is located in the center of 

the complex. Much of Curry Village lies within a National Historic District which recognizes 

the significance of the camp area for its philosophy of providing lower cost lodging for Yosemite 

visitors, and the Rustic style of architecture used in building construction. 

Tent cabins at Curry Village 

29 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Nearby developments are more seasonal and less dense in character. To the west of 

Curry Village along the south bank of the Merced River is the more contemporary 

Housekeeping Camp, which consists of a few core visitor services facilities and several open 

air structures with tilt-up walls, canvas roofs, and rustic screened patios. To the south of 

Housekeeping Camp is the stone LeConte Memorial Lodge, a National Historic Landmark. 

Originally built and operated by the Sierra Club, the Lodge serves as an interpretative and 

meeting center open to the general public. 

To the east of Curry Village, all the Valley drive-in campgrounds, which include Upper, 

Lower, and North Pines Campgrounds, are located. They are characterized by open sites 

under a forest canopy with an intermingling of comfort station and kiosk structures. Near 

the entrance to North Pines Campgrounds, the fenced enclosures and rustic structures of the 

Valley concessioner stable stand. And further east, where the Merced River tumbles down to 

the level Valley floor, is Happy Isles which is the major trailhead center in the Valley. Located 

at the start of the 211-mile John Muir Trail, structures in the area include a nature center, 

comfort station, and a system of pedestrian bridges providing access to islands set in the 

rushing river. 

Yosemite Valley’s primary circulation system 

features two west-east roads parallel to the Merced 

River, one on the north and the other on the south, 

appropriately named Northside and Southside Drives, 

with branches and loops providing access to the various 

developed areas. The roads and pullouts were designed 

to provide a sequence of ever-changing views as visitors 

traveled through the Valley. The two roads are connected 

by a series of vehicular and pedestrian bridges spanning 

the Merced River from Pohono Bridge at the west to 

the Happy Isles Bridge at the east end of the Valley. 

Six of the bridges spanning the Merced River as well as 

those spanning Tenaya and Yosemite Creeks are of 

Cabins at Housekeeping Camp 

30 NPS 
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Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

Tents at Camp Curry, Chiura Obata, Sumi on postcard, 

July 2,1927 

Rustic design and have been listed on the National Register of Historic 

Places. Portions of the roads to the east have been converted to pedestrian 

or transit use only and in the future other portions will be realigned or 

transformed into multiuse pathways. 

The cultural landscape of Yosemite Valley features nationally 

significant examples of architecture, including the Rangers’ Club, The 

Ahwahnee, and the LeConte Memorial Lodge, all of which are National 

Historic Landmarks. Yosemite Village is a nationally significant example 

of early National Park Service “park village” planning. Curry Village is a 

rare example of a surviving tent cabin complex of the type that was once 

common in many parks. The bridges and other resources already listed 

in the National Register of Historic Places are significant examples of 

state and national park development dating from the late 19th century 

to World War II. 

In addition to the individually recognized historic districts and properties, the entire 

cultural landscape is designated as the Yosemite Valley Historic District. The boundaries of 

the historic district extend from Valley wall to Valley wall, from Pohono Bridge to Mirror Lake 

and Nevada Fall. The nomination designates a “period of significance” from Indian Settlement 

to 1942. Period of significance is the length of time when a property was associated with 

important events, activities, or persons, or attained the characteristics which qualify it for 

National Register listing. The cultural landscape of Yosemite Valley, overall, has excellent 

integrity to the historic period. By 1942, the valley landscape had assumed the overall dimensions and character it possesses today; the basic footprint of development has remained 

relatively constant over the last 62 years. It is in Yosemite Valley that one can find the oldest, 

fullest, and purest expression of what scenic preservation and park development could achieve 

on the national scale. 

31 

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D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

HIST O R Y OF DEVELOPMENT 

IN Y OSEMITE NA TIONAL P ARK 

FROM THE EARLIEST time of exploration and pioneer settlement, development at Yosemite 

National Park has occurred under differing influences and priorities. Sometimes decisions were 

made while balancing opposing goals—expectations of profit and development, versus preservation of aesthetic values and protection of the park. The present is a time of great change 

in Yosemite National Park and, in particular, in the redevelopment of facilities in Yosemite 

Valley. The following history of development is offered to planners, designers, and park management with a stipulation. The lessons of the past come with a high level of responsibility— 

respect for what has been accomplished in the past and acknowledgement of earlier building 

principles on behalf of the future. 

THE MIWOK PEOPLE 

Yosemite National Park has had an estima PRIOR ted 8,000 years or mor Te of O occupa1833 tion by American 

Indians who established an impressive archaeological record. Miwok-speaking people came from 

the north to occupy the Yosemite Valley and mingled with the existing Yosemite Indians around 

AD 1100 – 1400. The Southern Miwok called the Yosemite Valley awahni (“place like a gaping 

mouth”) and the Miwok people living there came to be known as the awahnichi. A separate group 

from the Southern Miwok, the Ahwahneechee (the Yosemite Miwok) developed rich cultural 

traditions, religion, and political and trade affiliations with the Paiutes to the east. They 

established trails and, because they understood the benefits of controlled burning of underbrush, 

may have developed the mosaics of oaks and grassland found by early Euro-Americans. In the 

latter 18th century, disease to which they had no resistance decimated the Ahwaneechee. 

The Ahwaneechee, during their long occupation of the Yosemite Valley, built permanent 

villages in the Valley, and winter villages and camps for seasonal hunting, gathering, and fishing. 

Most homes in the Valley were “constructed of pine poles tied with grapevines and covered 

with overlapping layers of incense cedar bark...During the hot summer months, lean-tos covered 

with bark or brush were used as temporary shelters” (Bates and Lee 1990). The Ahwahneechee 

also built circular ceremonial houses whose earthen roofs were supported by oak posts, “forty 

to fifty feet in diameter, dug to a depth of three or four feet” (NPS 1987). They kept seed and 

nut crops like black oak acorns for winter use in chukah, storehouses, built of four or more 

cedar poles supporting a basket-like structure; and grinding houses built of bark slabs. 

OPPOSITE Traffic at Old Yosemite Village (date unknown) YRL 

33 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Information about the number of villages in 

Yosemite Valley is unreliable as it is limited to observations by Euro-Americans, starting with Stephen Powers 

in 1877, who noted nine villages along the Merced River. 

The count reached a high of thirty-seven according to 

Dr. C. Hart Merriam.3 At least six of these were inhabited 

in 1898. The most important village in Yosemite Valley 

was just below Yosemite Falls and was known as Koomine. 

During occupation by Euro-Americans, most of the 

Indian population lived in a village at the mouth of 

Indian Canyon, near the present Yosemite Medical Clinic. This village, Yowatchke, or the “Old 

Village,” was where the Mono Lake Paiute often camped and was occupied by the Yosemite 

Miwok and Paiute until the mid-1930s. When a part of the village was needed for construction 

of the Yosemite Medical Clinic, and because the National Park Service considered the village 

an eyesore, residents were relocated to the “New Village,” called Wahhoga. Over time, cabins 

were torn down or moved as they became unoccupied and the village was later removed. 

Acorn granaries, Chukahs below Sentinel Rock (1901) 

YRL-HW 

Within Yosemite Valley are hundreds of sites used by American Indians. Their villages 

and camps are also found throughout the park. Within the Valley, much has been damaged or 

destroyed by construction and landscaping. Evidence of American Indian culture is retained in 

bedrock mortars, hammer stones, manos and pestles, midden deposits, lithic scatters, rock shelters, and an extensive oral history. The Indians of Yosemite still have a strong presence in the 

park and surrounding communities, as well as vital cultural ties to the Yosemite landscape, 

traditional resources, and archeological sites. 

EXPLORATIO N + PIONEER SETTLEMENT 

The first sighting of Yosemite Valley by Euro-Americans w 1833–1864 as probably by members of the 

Joseph Walker Party in 1833. After the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills in 

1849, thousands of miners came to the Sierra to seek their fortune. Their penetration into 

the Miwok’s territory resulted in conflict with the Sierra Indian tribes, including the 

Ahwahneechee, who fought to protect their homelands. Because of such interaction, the 

Mariposa Battalion was organized as a punitive expedition under the authority of the State of 

34 NPS
� 

H IST O RY OF D EVEL OPMENT 

California to bring an end to the “Mariposa Indian War.” The Battalion entered Yosemite Valley 

while searching for Indians on March 27, 1851. The Ahwahneechee, led by Chief Tenaya, fled 

from the Valley in the face of greater firepower. A second expedition in the same year ended in 

the tribe’s surrender and relocation to the Fresno River reservation. Chief Tenaya made 

repeated appeals to return to the Valley. In 1852, following an attack by the Ahwahneechee on 

Euro-American prospectors in the Yosemite Valley and the death of two prospectors, army 

troops entered the Valley and summarily executed five Indians on the south rim. Tenaya and 

his people escaped to live with the Paiutes until 1853 when they returned to their Valley 

home. Chief Tenaya’s death signaled the dispersion of the tribe—some lived with the Mono 

Lake Paiutes, a few joined other Miwok groups along the Tuolumne River and some may have 

moved to Tuolumne Meadows or Pate Valley. 

Although not developed to the extent to which Yosemite Valley was developed for 

tourism, the rest of Yosemite National Park also underwent expansion by Euro-Americans in 

the 1850s. The popular assumption is that development outside the Valley and on its rims was 

stimulated by development in the Valley. However, there is evidence of early development in 

other areas that predates the growth of tourism in the Valley. Wilderness studies indicate very 

early use of park areas by Euro-Americans after the gold rush. Prior to and during the development of the tourist trade in the Valley, cattlemen, sheepherders and miners penetrated into 

the central and southern Sierra. In 1850, Euro-Americans entered Hetch Hetchy Valley, and 

soon thereafter, cattlemen and sheepherders explored the forests and meadows of the upland 

plateaus. In Mariposa, the gold rush brought in great numbers of miners, packers, businessmen, 

and camp followers. Following the gold rush, some miners settled in the area to become stockmen and hunters and were attracted to the high country south of the Valley. Finding their 

subsistence lifestyle and knowledge of Sierra routes and topography suited to sheepherding, 

some Indians became shepherds or took up hunting and guiding. Now the only evidence of 

the stockmen, hunters, miners and cavalry is blazes on trees, remnants of camps, trails, 

fences, and rockwork.4 

In the 1850s, publicists, writers, artists, and photographers spread the fame of “the 

Incomparable Valley” both in California and on the east coast. This message led to congressional 

recognition of the value of the Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (or “Big Trees”) 

as national treasures. As a result, a steadily increasing stream of visitors came on foot and 

35 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

horseback. Realizing he could make money from tourism, James Hutchings became one of the 

first in a long line of Yosemite’s entrepreneurs. Other business owners contributed to development in the Valley by constructing hotels and residences, bringing in livestock to graze in 

meadows and planting orchards. 

Much pioneer architecture was vernacular in style and was expressed in utilitarian 

log cabins used by stockmen, miners, and loggers. Although vee-notched corners prevailed, 

saddle-notched corners were also used in pioneer architecture. Roofs were generally covered 

in split shakes. Because of their wide availability and ease of splitting, sugar pine shakes were 

widely used by pioneers on the western slope of the Sierra.5 Used on both walls and roofs 

and split from bolts averaging 32 inches long, these shakes have a distinctive, long appearance. 

A regional variation of this shake roof occasionally appeared in which the vertical joints were 

aligned on all courses. Boards, if used, were often whipsawn from local trees although sawmills 

were built in the Yosemite Valley and surrounding area. 

Because the arduous and dusty trip to Yosemite made day-visits impossible, early visitors 

clamored to the California state legislature for hotels with comforts and service similar to 

fashionable Atlantic coast seaside resorts. In the 1850s, hotels were among the earliest EuroAmerican structures in the Valley and were located near the Merced River for the extraordinary 

views. Such accommodations were initially no more 

than large barns with stalls for rooms, having dirt floors 

and open windows. These eventually gave way to more 

modern two story framed wood structures constructed 

of lumber. An exception was J.C. Smith’s Cosmopolitan 

House, which offered “a saloon, billiard hall, bathing 

rooms, barber shop, mirrors full-length, pyramids of 

elaborate glassware, costly service, the finest of cues and 

tables, reading-room handsomely furnished and supplied 

with the latest from Eastern cities and baths” (Demars 

1991). However slowly, hotels did improve and were 

built within and around Yosemite. 

NPS 

Lamon’s log cabin: the first house in the Yosemite Valley (date unknown) YRL-TH 

36 
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H IST O RY OF D EVEL OPMENT 

FROM A STATE PUBLIC TRUST TO A NATIONAL PARK 

In 1864, the federal government ceded to the state of 1864–1890 California “The Yosemite Grant” which 

included the Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias as a public trust.6 Appointed 

as chairman (and one of eight commissioners) to manage the area, Frederick Law Olmsted 

set about defining the philosophy of how to manage the grant—an event with consequences 

for the future Yosemite National Park and other national and state parks. An important element 

in Olmsted’s report was his shaping, for the first time, the reason for parks to exist—that 

establishing “by government of great public grounds for the free enjoyment of the people... 

is thus justified and enforced as a political duty” (Olmsted 1865). The Yosemite Grant set a 

national precedent by being the first instance of a government preserving an area for scenic 

values and public enjoyment. Thus, the Yosemite Grant is recognized as the beginning of the 

national park movement in America, the start of the California state park system and of state 

parks in America. 

Olmsted’s report included suggestions for camping grounds, trails, accommodations, a 

good road into the Valley and around the perimeter of the Valley floor with footpaths to scenic 

points, and a system for funding the park by contract and concession. At Mariposa Grove, 

he recommended a road to and around the grove as a fire barrier. His plan, however, was very 

expensive and impossible to implement within the constraints of slim government budgets 

of the day. The commissioners did rely on Olmsted’s report and continued to circulate it 

in manuscript form at least through the turn of the century. Although unsalaried political 

appointees, most commissioners took a strong interest in the management of Yosemite Valley. 

To the extent that there was funding and support, the commissioners planned and managed 

the resources and facilities of Yosemite Valley and, not infrequently, denied inappropriate 

permit requests. 

During the 1888 summer season, over half of the 3,800 visitors to the Valley stayed at 

the Stoneman House (1886), a quarter stayed at the only other hotel, and the rest camped. In 

the decades that followed, the number of camping excursions increased and camping grew in 

popularity in the Valley. Camping was restricted to parts of lower Yosemite Valley because 

administrators divided up portions of the Valley among permit holders for grazing. Aaron 

Harris established the first campground in the area of the Lamon’s winter cabin, now the area 

of The Ahwahnee. Harris’ campground lasted until 1886 when the area was let to Coffman 

37 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

and Kenney for their stables, later removed and rebuilt at the current concessioner location. 

While the commissioners tried to meet demands for campgrounds by clearing land and seeding 

with perennial grasses, they found that visitors left the campgrounds littered with trash, 

defaced prominent rocks with inscriptions, cut down or destroyed trees and shrubs, and were 

careless in the use of fire. 

John Muir, a young Scotsman, arrived in San Francisco in 1868 and made his way to 

Yosemite where he explored, “studied the animals and weather...and formulated theories on 

glaciation and began molding his gospel of wilderness—the basic tenets of a philosophy of 

ecology and conservation that perceived wilderness as a necessity for the sustenance of human 

existence” (NPS 1987). As the years passed, he became well known for his theory about formation of Yosemite Valley by glaciation—as opposed to the popular theory of subsidence—and 

wrote extensively for national magazines on the origin, beauty and use of America’s wilderness. 

In 1889, Muir and the editor of “Century Magazine,” Robert Underwood Johnson, visited 

Yosemite Valley and were appalled to find the Valley “despoiled by commercialism and 

exploitation.” Both men felt that the commission’s management was inadequate and would 

ruin the Valley’s landscape. 

In the 1860s, the commissioners had instituted a policy of leasing land for 10-year 

periods to hotel owners, road and trail developers, and others who charged visitors a fee to 

recover their costs. Muir and his supporters opposed the Yosemite Valley Commission and 

protested policies of fencing, developing pastures, and cutting trees to improve views. In the 

commissioners’ view, income from the leases helped offset other costs and removing young 

invasive trees from meadows was done to protect the meadows from fire and recreate the Valley’s 

open park-like settings. Most visitors were simply not aware of the day-to-day challenges of fire 

protection, maintenance, and clean-up activities and providing food, fuel, construction supplies, 

and forage in a remote location. 

Eventually, sheepherders and the effect of their flocks grazing on the meadows provoked 

efforts by Muir and others to secure a forest reserve surrounding the Yosemite grant. Muir’s 

articles touched on the possibility of incorporating the high country into a national park and 

his articles sparked a national debate that continued for years. In 1890, Yosemite National Park 

was established, in great part due to Muir’s influence, and more than 900,000 acres was set 

38 NPS 
� 

H IST O RY OF D EVEL OPMENT 

John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt at Glacier Point 

(1903) YRL 

aside for preservation of timber, minerals, meadows, and other “natural 

curiosities.” 7 Not included were the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa 

Grove, which remained a state grant until the 1906 recession to the 

federal government. 

When the Valley was made a state grant, toll roads were built and, in 

the early 1870s, companies constructing toll roads from the communities of 

Coulterville, Mariposa, and Big Oak Flat raced to be the first to reach the 

Yosemite Valley. The Coulterville & Yosemite Turnpike won, opening in 

June, 1874. The Chinese Camp & Yo Semite Turnpike reached the Valley from Big Oak Flat 

less than a month later. A year later, a road from Mariposa to Big Tree Station (Wawona) and 

on to Yosemite Valley was completed. Of the three toll roads, only the road to Wawona was 

profitable. Stagecoach service replaced horses as soon as passable roads into the Valley were 

completed. North of Yosemite Valley, the Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Mining Company 

built a wagon road to its mines on the Sierra Crest in 1882. The Great Sierra Wagon road, also 

called the Tioga Road, was completed in 1883 and, as no ore or equipment was hauled over the 

road after its construction, it was abandoned shortly thereafter. 

With the completion of the Central Pacific Railroad into the San Joaquin Valley in 1869, 

Yosemite became more accessible to visitors. As early as 1871, developers wished for rail service 

to Yosemite both for tourism and to facilitate business enterprise. The Stockton & Copperpolis 

line transported travelers partway to Yosemite, from Stockton to Milton, where they transferred 

to stagecoaches for the rest of the trip. Taking advantage of the Southern Pacific Railroad, in 

1876 the California Lumber Company founded Madera, “from which a stage road ultimately 

led via Coarse Gold, Fresno Flats (Oakhurst), and Fish Camp to Wawona” (NPS 1987). 

UNITED STATES ARMY 

Following a congressional battle over civilian administr 1891–1914 ation of Yellowstone National Park, 

the cavalry were sent to manage that park in 1886. Thus, the cavalry became a convenient 

park manager. They were well organized and equipped for long periods of field work and needed 

a substitute for maneuvers in a time of few military conflicts. In May of 1891, when the cavalry 

arrived in Wawona to administer the newly created park, their chief mission was controlling 

39 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

access and preventing intrusions by miners, loggers, trappers and hunters, cattlemen and 

sheepherders. Responsible for the entire park, except for the Valley and Mariposa Grove (still 

under state administration), the army was generally motivated by a policy of “patrol and 

control” (Farabee 2003). Initially, cavalry troops erected basic facilities for seasonal use and 

patrolled the park only in the summer months from May to October. Temporary summer 

quarters were established near Wawona, and in 1906, the army moved its headquarters operations 

to the Valley. There the army built a semi-permanent post on the site of the American Indian 

village of Koomine, near Lower Yosemite Fall. Much of the military’s development within the 

park consisted of knitting together ancient trails to form patrol routes and developing new 

circulation patterns, “with most of the main features of today’s system laid down by 1914” 

(NPS 1987). In addition to a system of patrol cabins, roads, trails, and bridges, the army also 

constructed campgrounds and administration buildings. Their buildings were designed and 

erected either from Quartermaster Corps standardized plans or as vernacular buildings using 

local materials. 

In an attempt to manage the use of public campgrounds and prevent damage to the 

park’s natural resources, in 1897 and 1898, the state erected a number of tents for rent. This 

marked the beginning of tent camps like Curry Village, started by David A. Curry in 1899, 

that offered affordable tent accommodations to guests. After the recession in 1906, the army 

conducted a study of the water, roads, and sanitation needs of the Valley. Because sewage 

was dumped into the river below the Sentinel Hotel, campgrounds below the hotel were 

closed in 1908. The campgrounds east of the Sentinel 

were very slowly developed with garbage pickup, 

drinking water, and sewer facilities. Eventually twenty 

numbered campgrounds (e.g., Camp 4, Camp 6, etc.) 

were located in the Valley; most of these have been 

replaced by development of other visitor facilities. 

Outside the park, the Sierra Railway of California 

in 1900 ran from Oakdale to Tuolumne. The Yosemite 

Short Line Railroad was started in 1905 at Quartz 

Junction, near Jamestown, and “was intended to pass 

just north of Groveland on its way to Yosemite, tapping 

rich timber tracts...” (Wurm 2000). The Short Line 

NPS 

U.S. Cavalry at Mariposa Grove of Big Trees (1899) YRL 

40 
� 

H IST O RY OF D EVEL OPMENT 

ceased to exist when the high cost of construction and operation overcame revenues. Incorporated 

in 1902, the Yosemite Valley Railroad (YVR) approached the park from Merced through the 

Merced River canyon and reached El Portal in 1907. The company also built a stage road from 

El Portal into the Valley and travelers from El Portal transferred to a stage line for the final leg 

of their trip. Most visitors took this shorter route causing the stage lines to decline. In 1906, 

California ceded control of the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to the federal government. In 1914, civilian park rangers took over from the cavalry. 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PLANNING 

Planning for the National Park Service began in la 1914–1940 te 1914 when Stephen Mather was informallSy 

offered the leadership of a yet-to-be formed national park service by Secretary of the Interior, 

Franklin Lane. After formation of the National Park Service in 1916, Mather took time to 

meet his superintendents, conduct a national publicity campaign to educate the public about 

national parks, buy the long abandoned Tioga Road as a gift to the federal government for 

Yosemite, and develop an organization. Under his leadership, the Rustic style of architecture 

was utilized by the NPS in the planning and development of park facilities from 1916 into the 

1940s. It was “based on a canny combination of pioneer building skills and techniques, principles 

of the Arts and Crafts movement, and the premise of harmony with the landscape” (USFS 2001). 

The Rustic style relied on natural materials like native stone, timbers, shakes, and shingles. 

Buildings were designed to fit the topography of the land. Director Mather’s desire to make 

Yosemite the showplace of the NPS system and his pet project of relocating the Yosemite 

Village to a new site on the north side of the Valley precipitated a lengthy study on the design 

of new park structures. His goals included establishing a strong landscape architecture division 

to ensure structures would be in harmony with their surroundings. 

Primary design features of the mature NPS Rustic architectural style in Yosemite 

involved heavy, hewn logs, carefully detailed river-washed cobble-and-boulder masonry work, 

heavy shake roofs, and natural colors. Picking up on the earlier pioneer theme, designers 

consistently used sugar pine shakes on roofs and side walls of administration buildings, utility 

buildings, and residences in the Valley and throughout the park. They used a palette of 

shakes, lap siding, and stone to create banding patterns on side walls. Sugar pine shakes were 

41 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Park Service Superintendent W. B. Lewis, Curry Company Director A. B. C. Dohrman, a Park 

Service architect, Curry Company president Don Tresidder and Gilbert Stanley Underwood 

hold large rendering of the hotel. (1925) YRL 

used to create alternate bands of long and short lengths; 

alternating courses of sugar pine shakes and cedar 

shingles were also used on many residential structures 

in the Village (NPS 2004b). Other building features 

were often oversized to produce harmony with elements 

of Yosemite’s enormous cliffs and peaks. With dark 

brown stained walls, foundation plantings, and vegetation screening, these buildings were 

unobtrusive and blended well with their surroundings. The “log cabin in the wilderness” look 

evolved into a mature style and was emulated nationwide in other parks. 

Within Yosemite Village is “one of the largest and most significant collections of NPS 

Rustic style buildings in the national park system” (NPS 2004c). Buildings that exemplify the 

NPS Rustic style are the Administration Building (1924), the Museum (1926), post office (1924), 

NPS residential buildings, and a variety of utilitarian and small offices. The Rangers’ Club 

(1920) was a gift from Stephen Mather to the National Park Service and is an example of the 

Stick style, a variant within the NPS Rustic style.

8 Mather’s association with the building is 

significant in its own right and gains additional importance because the building represents 

his commitment to a national architectural style for park buildings. 

Although protection of natural resources was a concern, development for visitor use 

was also an issue of tremendous importance. Mather recognized that attracting visitors to the 

parks meant building and developing facilities to accommodate everyone. He immediately 

understood that the National Park Service had to educate people about parks and that doing 

so would encourage them to fall in love with parks. His philosophy of providing visitors with 

the ability to view nature without hardships contributed to Yosemite Valley becoming the 

focus for most visitors. A promoter of Yosemite’s premier lodge in the Valley, The Ahwahnee 

and bungalows, Mather also supported continued development of Camp Curry (established in 

1899) to offer tents and austere accommodations. 

Until 1907, when the Yosemite Valley Railroad was completed, tourist operations were 

seasonal with few winter occupants.

9 Following World War I, the National Park Service encouraged the concessioner to develop and offer winter sports to sustain winter operations. Camp 

Curry offered an excellent location for such development. The winter shadow on that side of 

the Valley made it the best place for long-lasting ice skating, tobogganing, and ski-joring (being 

pulled on skis by horses). (Within the “winter shadow” there is daylight but no direct sunlight, providing a consistent and long-lasting cool climate.) 

42 NPS 
� 

H IST O RY OF D EVEL OPMENT 

In 1916, the Desmond Park Service Company, later the Yosemite National Park 

Company, was granted a 20-year concession to operate camps, stores, and other services in the 

park. The company also began construction of mountain chalets, forerunners of the present 

High Sierra Camps. Until this time, visitors to the backcountry either carried their own gear 

or relied on pack trains. In 1924, in an attempt to lure visitors into the backcountry, the 

National Park Service began promoting the opening of the High Sierra Camps. Located within 

a day’s walk from each other, the camps offered food and cheap lodging along a grand High 

Sierra loop that included Little Yosemite Valley (no longer used), Merced Lake, Boothe Lake, 

Tuolumne Meadows, Glen Aulin, and Tenaya Lake. Six camp locations survive today at 

Tuolumne Meadows, May Lake (replaced Tenaya Lake), Glen Aulin, Sunrise (established in 

1961), Vogelsang (replaced Boothe Lake and now in a third location) and Merced Lake. White 

Wolf was not a High Sierra Camp although it was occasionally managed by the concessioner. 

At the Mariposa Grove, the Big Trees Lodge was established in 1920. Other hotel facilities 

constructed in the park include the White Wolf Lodge on the Tioga Road, built in 1926 and 

operated privately by the John Meyer family until it was purchased for the park. The Wawona 

Hotel was acquired by the National Park Service and the furnishings and equipment by the 

concessioner in 1932. The Glacier Point Hotel overlooked the Valley and was later demolished 

by fire. At Hetch Hetchy, construction of the dam attracted visitors who stayed at the Hetch 

Hetchy Lodge. Operated at Mather for two years by the concessioner, the City of San Francisco 

bought the lodge and opened it as Camp Mather, part of a summer resort. 

In 1932, the concessioner and the Sierra Club pushed the National Park Service to 

develop a winter hut and ski trails system, leading to development of Badger Pass and the 

Chinquapin area for skiers. Even the Ostrander Ski Hut, designed by Eldridge Spencer as a 

touring shelter and built in seven weeks by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940, became 

an integral part of winter recreation at Yosemite. 

While the state of California had extended earlier trails on and around the Yosemite 

Valley rim and established overlooks, trails in the backcountry were built by the army for 

patrolling and by the National Park Service for visitor enjoyment. Gradually connected, at 

first to form a well-defined network of trails and later as part of a plan to make the park more 

attractive to visitors, trails were built during a time when their construction was considered 

an art. Using hand labor with few explosives or heavy equipment, these early trails were 

designed and planned to blend with the environment and to follow the topography. As auto 

43 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

traffic brought more visitors to the park in the 1920s, crews started to rely 

on machine tools to build both roads and trails. The resulting engineered 

trails resembled roads, cut into the landscape instead of following contours, 

making them susceptible to flood damage in later years (NPS 1995c). 

Although the first automobiles entered Yosemite in 1900, autos 

were banned from the park in 1907 in response to increased road use and 

readmitted in 1913. By the 1920s, auto tourism created a demand for better 

and more direct roads into the Valley. In 1926, the state completed the 

All-Year Highway to El Portal and improved the Arch Rock entrance along 

the El Portal Road. In the 1930s, the federal government reconstructed the 

major park roads for automobile traffic. The Wawona Road was rebuilt and much of the Big 

Oak Flat Road was relocated and rebuilt for safety, heavier traffic, and higher speeds. Four 

tunnels were built to avoid scarring the Valley walls and overlooks were constructed for visitors 

to take in the scenery. Also in the early 1930s, the Tioga Road was partially realigned and a 

connector built between White Wolf and Crane Flat. 

Auto camping on Stoneman Meadow (1927) YRL 

The army, to some extent, and the National Park Service in particular took care to build 

tunnels, bridges, and stone retaining walls to blend with the land. Significant for engineering 

and aesthetic reasons, the roads in Yosemite harmonize with their natural surroundings in the 

use of natural materials for road-related structures built in the Rustic style. 

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s answer to the Gr 1933–1941 eat Depression was the initiation of New 

Deal programs in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), one of the relief programs 

to grow out of the New Deal, was responsible for much development in Yosemite National 

Park between 1933 and 1941. During the years the CCC program was in place, the park 

enjoyed a boom period of development and construction. The six CCC camps established in 

Yosemite were among the first organized in the west. Their projects included road cleanup, 

signs, borders, bridges, stream channel cleanup, erection of telephone lines, insect and erosion 

control, fire protection, and some trail building. All CCC work in natural areas of the National 

44 NPS
� 

H IST O RY OF D EVEL OPMENT 

Park System “was planned and overseen by landscape architects, park engineers, and foresters” 

(NPS 1983). Their activity was widespread and included all the park’s developed areas with 

particular attention given to the Valley where their work was characterized by careful craftsmanship and the utilization of natural materials in the Rustic style. CCC projects emphasized 

harmonious design using natural, local materials like wood and stone. Soon, structures of log 

and stone masonry outnumbered earlier ones, executed in the vernacular style. The laborintensive CCC work focused on a beautification program in the Yosemite Village including 

removing deteriorated buildings, installing log curbing, extensive planting of native ferns, trees 

and shrubs around buildings and campgrounds, and maintaining trees. While the CCC was 

very active in flood recovery after the 1937 flood, one of their main jobs was cleaning up after 

logging by the Yosemite Lumber Company in the southwest part of the park, and the Yosemite 

Sugar Pine Lumber Company in the northwest. Forestry work led easily to insect work and 

eliminating species like the gooseberry to prevent blister rust in Yosemite forests. 

Another New Deal program, the Public Works Administration (PWA), completed 

capital improvements, such as bridges, culverts, roads, and buildings, using skilled labor and 

National Park Service design standards. PWA projects were unique because all projects in 

national parks had a strong relationship to the landscape design of the park and were based 

on master plans initiated by Director Mather. In Yosemite, PWA projects were done in three 

main areas: park headquarters in Yosemite Valley, 

Glacier Point (overlooking the Valley) and Wawona, 

and Tuolumne Meadows. Enlarging and raising the 

O’Shaughnessy Dam at Hetch Hetchy by 851⁄2 feet 

was another PWA project albeit administered by the 

City of San Francisco. PWA designers also devoted a 

great deal of attention to housing at Yosemite, building 

a number of residences, apartment houses and duplexes. 

Development extended to a campground at Tuolumne 

Meadows, cabins for the Indian Village, Chinquapin, 

and construction of fire lookouts at Henness Ridge 

and Crane Flat. 

Cascades CCC Camp. Buildings are no longer extant (ca. 1930) YRL 

45 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

MISSION 66 

Little development occurred from the 1940s until 1956. F 1956–1970 rom its origins in the early 20th century 

until the development of the Mission 66 initiative, the National Park Service had relied on 

residential-scale administration buildings or existing structures in nearby towns to provide 

information to visitors. Mather’s goals included establishing a strong landscape architecture 

division to ensure structures would be in harmony with their surroundings. While some 

ranger stations were located at entrances, others were located in the backcountry and were 

inaccessible to visitors arriving by automobile. Employee housing was substandard in quality 

with inadequate living conditions. Most public facilities and services, including hotels, restaurants, and guided tours, were provided by concessioners. The sharp rise in park visitation 

by visitors freed from the constraints of World War II, quickly placed natural and cultural 

resources at risk from overuse and mistreatment. In 1945, 11.7 million people visited the parks, 

and by 1956, this number jumped fivefold to 61.6 million visitors (Wirth 1980). 

In 1956, Congress authorized a 10-year program of planning and construction known 

as Mission 66. The broad-reaching program of park improvement was anticipated to be 

accomplished within 10 years and coincide with the golden anniversary of the National Park 

Service, giving rise to the program’s name. The initiative, orchestrated by NPS Director Conrad 

Wirth, focused on a program of park development, infrastructure improvement and resource 

protection that would “overcome the inroads of neglect and ...restore to the American people 

a national park system adequate for their needs” (Wirth 1980). 

The design philosophy of Mission 66 was a radical 

departure from the Rustic style heritage of the National 

Park Service; the new style was based on modern, 

progressive, architectural design and functionalism, 

employing the latest materials and technology. Mission 

66 visitor centers used contemporary architectural 

forms and materials to fulfill the variety of functions, 

including providing spaces for interpretive talks, park 

administrative offices, and visitor services. Prominently 

sited at a major entry or other strategic points, the 

buildings became an instantly recognizable feature of 

NPS 

Valley Visitor Center at Yosemite Village (2004) RF 

46 
� 

H IST O RY OF D EVEL OPMENT 

the parks. Like visitor centers, ranger stations were also sited for easy automobile access and 

were the initial point of visitor contact and orientation in developed areas. They were designed 

to provide visitors with information, services, and orientation. They also provided an official 

presence in isolated areas of development and often served as the first official point of contact 

within the park boundaries. By 1955, employee housing was well on the way to becoming an 

acute problem as a projected doubling of the park’s workforce was anticipated and, in large 

western parks, the problem was compounded because available private-sector housing could be 

an hour or more away. Standardized designs were developed for new housing and, in the Pacific 

West Region, gave expression in most instances to low rectangular horizontal forms similar to 

low-cost housing found in suburban communities. Housing units had either a shallow gable or 

flat roof with deep overhangs to accentuate the building’s horizontal character. Carports or 

garages were common elements; their form was dictated by the climate of the region where 

they were built. 

In the Pacific West Region, the variety of property types represented in the Mission 66 

program include visitor centers, residential units, ranger stations, campgrounds, picnic shelters, 

maintenance areas, comfort stations, circulation systems such as road networks, airstrips, and 

boat launches. The Mission 66 program at Yosemite created a new focal center in the Valley 

including the Valley Visitor Center and other visitor facilities and services. The program 

enlarged roads, parking areas, and campgrounds, and constructed many new motel units. At 

Yosemite, visitation to the park exceeded one million in 1954 and doubled by 1976. The postwar tourism boom continued unabated and impacts in the Yosemite Valley soon became apparent. 

In the early 1970s, the National Park Service established one-way road traffic patterns, eliminated cars in the far east end of the Valley, offered free shuttle bus transportation in the 

Valley, converted the parking lot in front of the Valley Visitor Center to a pedestrian mall, 

and generally encouraged visitors to enjoy the park by walking or using public transportation. 

The last 21-mile stretch of the Tioga Road between White Wolf and Tuolumne Meadows 

was built in the late 1950s under Mission 66. It became the focus of opposition by the Sierra 

Club and other activists who disagreed with the design and construction of a road that required 

blasting and scarring the glacially polished granite surfaces at Tenaya Lake and Polly Dome. 

The final road was “carefully designed to display to the fullest the dramatic assets of the 

Sierra Nevada. [It was] ...well supplied with overlooks and interpretive signs” (NPS 1987). 

47 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

High water, 1997 Merced 

River flood, YRL-ST 

CURRENT CHALLENGES 

Started in 1975 and completed in 1980, Y 1970 TosemiteO ’s GenerPRESENT al Management Plan articulated the 

need for parkwide visitor services, resources management, interpretation services, concessions 

management, and park operations. The General Management Plan established a plan that would 

eventually remove automobiles and additional development from Yosemite Valley. Implementation of the General Management Plan is ongoing, with the Yosemite Valley Plan providing 

actions to manage the park’s natural and cultural resources, facilities, and visitor experiences. 

The Yosemite Valley Plan also responds to damage from the 1997 flood that destroyed much 

infrastructure and resulted in Congress appropriating $200 million for flood recovery actions. 

The present offers opportunities and challenges, first, to bring about the changes outlined in 

the General Management Plan with the awareness that today’s work will be critically judged by 

future generations. Designers can recognize the park’s architectural heritage in a manner that 

acknowledges and honors the work of those who came before—while learning from the past and 

improving park facilities. 

3	 Only six of the villages Merriam counted were inhabited in 1898. Two other villages were located near what is now the NPS maintenance 

yard and near Sentinel Rock. 

4	 This information was taken from a series of Wilderness Historic Resources Surveys completed from 1988 through 1995 by Jim Snyder, 

Park Historian,Yosemite National Park. Surveys on file at Yosemite National Park Research Library. 

5	 This area extended from present-day Sequoia to Lassen Volcanic national parks. Information about shakes and sugar pine by Craig Struble, 

Chief, Heritage Preservation Team,Yosemite National Park, personal communication, May 13, 2004. 

6 Early written accounts indicate that the Mariposa Grove, six miles southeast of Wawona, was discovered by Euro-Americans in 1849. 

Once served by a wagon road, the grove became a popular stopping place for visitors on the way into the Yosemite Valley to view 

3,500 year-old trees. 

7 This area was reduced in later years when portions of the park were turned over to logging and mining interests. 

8 Subsets of the NPS Rustic style include (in addition to the Stick style) the Swiss Rustic and the Ethno-Historic style. Swiss Rustic was the 

earliest of these and was a response to the elaborate Victorian style with influences from the craftsman style.The Ethno-Historic style is 

found in the southwest and displays elements from southwest American Indian construction. 

9 The Yosemite Valley Railroad ceased operation in 1945 after lumber and mining operations along the route were closed down and their 

mail service contract was cancelled. 

48 NPS 

U NIFYING ELEMENTS + GUIDELINES 

FOR YOSEMITE V ALLEY 

INTRODUCTION 51


SETTING 55


Natural Systems + Features 55


Scenic Views 59


Vegetation 61


LANDSC APE USES + STRUCTURES 66


Land Use + Spatial Organization 66


Circulation 67


Parking 69


Entrance Markers 72


Small Buildings 73


Masonry, Bridges, Culvert Crossings,


Retaining Walls + Boardwalks 76


Grading + Drainage 78


Barriers, Fences + Benches 79


Lighting 82


DEVELOPED AREAS 84


Siting + Building Orientation 84


Architectural Character 86


Building Shape + Massing 87


Roof Form + Materials 88


Building Exterior 91


OVERLEAF Valley Morning Mist (1994) DNC-KW 
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D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

UNIFYING ELEMENTS + GUIDELINES 

FOR Y OSEMITE V ALLEY 

THE PURPOSE of the Unifying Elements and Guidelines is to identify and 

describe design elements that exist throughout Yosemite Valley, and to 

recommend design guidelines based upon them. The Unifying Elements 

presented in this chapter describe elements found in Yosemite Valley— 

both natural and human-made—that thread through all the Valley areas and 

contribute to a unified sense of place. The guidelines that follow are recommendations for the design of new development that respects and builds 

upon the existing Unifying Elements. 

never before have i seen so glorious a landscape, so boundless an affluence of sublime 

mountain beauty... the noble walls sculptured into endless variety of domes and 

gables, spires and battlements and plain mural precipices—all a-tremble with the 

thunder tones of the falling water. JOHN MUIR 

This chapter is divided into three sections: Setting, Landscape Uses 

and Structures, and Developed Areas. Setting contains discussions of 

natural systems and features, views, and vegetation. Landscape Uses and 

Structures includes land use and spatial organization, circulation, and 

individual elements in the human-made landscape, including smaller structures. Developed Areas covers siting and building orientation, architectural 

character and building appearance. In each section, specific topics are 

addressed, Unifying Elements are identified and described, and guidelines 

are recommended. 

Following this chapter, there are chapters on each developed area in 

Yosemite Valley. The site-specific guidelines in those chapters flow from 

and are supported by the Unifying Elements. The Unifiers apply to 

Yosemite Valley as a whole, and also to each of the developed areas. 

51 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

development of a 

design e thic 

From the earliest years of the national parks, design 

efforts were based on philosophical premises about the 

nature of the national parks themselves. Parks were 

sacred landscapes, separate from the surrounding world, 

and visitors to the parks expected to experience a different 

environment. A second important premise was that each 

park had to have a distinct image that unified its various 

developments. Across any particular park, all the developments had to share enough elements to give them a recognizable unity (NPS 1989). Architectural and landscape 

design were to contribute to realizing these premises. 

Those who were charged with overseeing both 

protection and visitor use of this valued Valley 

recognized early on that any influences by humankind 

required a different and measured approach. The first 

Yosemite Commission proposed farsighted guidelines for 

management of Yosemite and the Mariposa Grove in a 

Preliminary Report, dated 1865. Its chairman, Frederick 

Law Olmsted, regarded to be the father of American 

Landscape Architecture, wrote “The first point to be 

kept in mind then is the preservation and maintenance 

as exactly as is possible of the natural scenery; the 

restriction, that is to say, within the narrowest limits 

consistent with the necessary accommodation of visitors, of all artificial constructions and the prevention of 

all constructions markedly inharmonious with the scenery 

or which would unnecessarily obscure, distort or detract 

from the dignity of the scenery” (Olmsted 1865). 

In a similar spirit during the early years of the 

agency, Stephen T. Mather, the first director of the 

National Park Service, wrote in a Statement of Policy in 

1918, “This is a most important item in our programs of 

development and requires the employment of trained 

engineers who either possess a knowledge of landscape 

architecture or have a proper appreciation of the aesthetic 

value of park lands. All improvements will be carried 

out in accordance with a preconceived plan developed in 

special reference to the preservation of the landscape.” 

Mather was committed to developmental planning 

and believed in the importance of preserving the parks’ 

natural scenery as much as possible while opening them 

to visitor use. One of his first steps was to establish a 

landscape architecture division to ensure that park structures would be in harmony with their surroundings. By 

the mid-1920s, Mather had instituted a program whereby 

park superintendents integrated and controlled new 

developments by planning them over a five-year period. 

Mather envisioned in Yosemite, his favorite park, a 

cohesive park building program for rustic structures 

including a grand lodge. He was concerned with the 

visual effects of the built environment on natural scenery. 

According to his vision for the Valley, buildings were not 

designed to be dominant elements in the landscape, but 

instead to blend with the natural environment. 

The first director agreed with preservationists 

that the Valley appeared overdeveloped and was filled 

with a hodgepodge of unsightly, unrelated structures. 

He ordered the relocation of administrative functions to 

a new Yosemite Village north of the Merced River away 

from the floodplain. There was strong desire by park 

planners to rebuild Yosemite’s facilities in an organized 

Doctor’s residence,Yosemite Village (2004) RF 

52 NPS 
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U NIFYING E LEMENTS + G UIDELINES 

Stephen Mather, first director of the National Park Service, with a model of Yosemite 

Village (ca. 1925) YRL 

and aesthetic manner. Mather specified the use of rustic 

structures appropriate to the natural environment. 

These plans set the basic premises for park village planning throughout the National Park System. They included 

a unified vernacular architectural theme; strong visual 

relationships between public spaces and nearby natural 

features; zoning of residential, public, and commercial 

areas, and hierarchy of different street types (NPS 2004d). 

The National Park Service was instrumental in 

creating an architectural vernacular of rustic design, 

often referred to as the “Rustic style” that flourished 

between 1916 and 1942. The style was an expression of 

the philosophy that buildings should be in harmony with 

the landscape and in harmony with each other. Virtually 

everyone involved in early national park management 

agreed that proposed architectural development should 

“blend” and “harmonize” with its surroundings. 

Buildings that are associated with the Rustic style 

may display individuality but include several similar 

characteristics. They often included adherence to a comprehensive plan, deference to the natural environment 

and careful siting to develop strong visual ties with the 

surrounding setting, especially orienting to views. The 

physical characteristics of such architecture included 

natural materials and expression of texture such as natural 

wood siding, wood-shingled roofs, heavily rusticated or 

boulder masonry, and peeled log walls, columns, and 

trusses. In addition, rustic buildings often display hand 

craftsmanship, are small sized, and incorporate historical 

details. Within Yosemite Village, oversized stones and 

logs were used in construction to fit the mass of the 

buildings into the setting, horizontal lines were used to 

lower the profile of the structures, and vegetation was 

Washington Lewis, first director of Yosemite National Park, and Stephen Mather, Director 

of the National Park Service, in New Yosemite Village (1924) YRL 

often massed along the foundations of structures to 

blend with the surrounding landscape. 

The Rustic style grew out of and reinterpreted 

elements of several architectural movements including 

the American Arts and Crafts movement, the Shingle 

style, the Adirondack style, the Prairie style, and regional 

styles of design. Particularly in Yosemite Valley, influences 

included the Bay Area style and West Coast bungalows, 

including work by the architect brothers, Greene 

and Greene. 

The distinctive style of architecture which emerged 

in the Bay Area around San Francisco in the first two 

decades of the 20th century had a lasting influence on 

the design of park buildings. One of the leaders of this 

style was Bernard Maybeck who was involved with the 

design of two National Historic Landmark structures in 

Yosemite: the LeConte and Parsons Memorial Lodges. 

This style used local materials and followed principles 

of siting, hand craftsmanship, harmonizing nature and 

structure, and presenting scenic views (McClelland 1998). 

Many of these same features are reflected in rustic architecture built in national park areas. By the 1920s, when 

National Park Service landscape engineers were working 

out a program of landscape design for national parks, 

there existed a well established philosophy for park design 

drawn from the practices and precedents in landscape 

architecture and architecture in the region. During the 

1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crews 

within Yosemite followed those practices in new facility 

construction. The association and imagery of rustic 

appearing structures with forested mountain settings 

and, in particular with national park areas such as 

Yosemite, has become part of American culture. 

53 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

El Capitan with snow (1995) RF 

The buildings in Yosemite Valley today represent 

almost every phase of American park architecture. 

Above all, buildings depicting the National Park Service 

Rustic style are well represented, and the Valley contains 

one of the largest and most significant collections of this 

style in the national park system. A range of expression 

in rustic design and building materials is represented by 

both concessioner and National Park Service operated 

buildings (NPS 2004d). 

unifying t hemes 

Several recurring general themes and elements in site 

planning and building design help to unify development 

within Yosemite Valley: 

• Developments planned in a holistic and 

integrated fashion; 

• The patchwork pattern of open meadow and woodlands along the Merced River corridor that define 

the overall park-like character of the landscape and 

provide a sequence of spaces and views to primary 

natural features; 

• The general density of development in the eastern 

portion of the Valley, and the overall footprint of 

historic development in concentrated nodes throughout the Valley; 

Museum in snow, Yosemite Village (1952) YRL-RA 

• The influence of natural systems on the type and 

degree of physical development and land use on the 

Valley floor (the cliff walls and river corridor in 

particular). The cultural landscape appears to have been 

organized in response to both the Valley’s environmental constraints and opportunities. Most developed sites 

today occur in areas that are less environmentally 

sensitive, that are safest from flooding, and that provide 

convenient physical and visual access to major scenic 

natural features; 

• Views are a major influence in the siting and orientation of structures, both to take advantage of scenic 

views and also not to intrude on views from other 

vantage points; 

• Buildings in general have been sited to accommodate 

existing vegetation. They also have been sited on level 

topography to avoid grading of the land to the greatest 

extent possible; 

• Buildings do not dominate the natural setting; 

• The use of a Rustic style of architecture throughout 

the Valley and park is an intentional response to the 

natural surroundings. 

54 NPS 
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U NIFYING E LEMENTS + G UIDELINES 

s etting 

NATURAL SY STEMS + FEATURES 

Climate 

The distinct and abrupt topography of Yosemite Valley 

contributes to a unique local climate. Despite its elevation 

of 4,000 feet, the climate of the Valley is relatively mild. 

The months of April through October feature warm 

daytime temperatures and cool nights. In summer the 

average temperature is 96 degrees, with some days 

exceeding 100 degrees. Winter temperatures dip to the 

30s at night and can be as high as 60 degrees on a sunny 

day. Precipitation averages 35 to 40 inches annually, with 

the greatest amount falling between December and 

March. Snowfall in the Valley averages 29 inches but rarely 

accumulates to a depth of over two feet. The nature of the 

weather systems in the Valley is such that most of the 

snow melts between winter storms and does not remain 

on the ground for long periods of time. Because of low 

winter sun and shadow cast by the cliffs on the south 

edge of the Valley, snow can linger until late spring. There 

is negligible precipitation during the summer months, 

and many of the Valley’s waterfalls virtually dry up. 

Visitors to the Valley can observe seasonal changes. 

Deciduous California black and valley oaks and riparian 

vegetation signal the seasonal transitions with flowers 

in spring, summer greenery, fall color, and leaf drop in 

winter. Such clear transitions are less apparent throughout much of California. 

Within the Valley there are distinct micro-climates. 

Curry Village, located on the south side of the Valley, 

spends much of the year in the shadow of the cliffs. 

Although the winters at Curry Village are cold and 

damp, it is refreshingly cool there in the summer. Most 

of the developed areas are located on the more sunny, 

north side of the Valley. These include Yosemite Lodge, 

Yosemite Village, and The Ahwahnee. The warmth is 

welcome during the winter months, though it can be 

very hot at these locations in the summer. 

More ephemeral qualities such as valley fog, winter 

sinks of freezing temperatures, especially along the 

south edge of the Valley, and the relative coolness in the 

shade of California black oak clusters, which favor the 

north edge of the Valley, are also distinct climate-derived 

qualities that contribute to this cultural landscape. 

GUIDELINES 

• New development—including building siting, orientation, and design—should respond to the micro-climatic 

differences found within the Valley. For example, 

buildings on the cool south side of the Valley should 

be oriented to maximize winter light. Buildings on 

the north side require shade in the summer. 

• Architectural forms should clearly reflect climatic 

factors and consequences. For example, as more visitors 

come to the Valley in the wintertime, snow and ice 

should be recognized as important design considerations 

for buildings, structures, and landscape improvements. 

• Initiation, continuation, or expansion of landscape 

design and maintenance programs should reflect the 

micro-climatic characteristics of the Valley. 

• Announce seasonal change through the use of native 

deciduous and flowering plants in landscape design. 

• Refer to the Vegetation in Unifying Elements for more 

guidelines on vegetation. 

Natural Light + Sound 

The combination of light-colored granite, an east-west 

orientation, and the proportion of the relatively narrow 

valley to towering peaks, creates unique phenomena in 

Yosemite Valley. Sunset reflecting off the granite can 

produce a colorful alpenglow on Clouds Rest and Half 

Dome, which has attracted artists, photographers, and 

visitors alike since the late 19th century. 

There are opportunities in the Valley for visitors 

to hear the natural sounds of the meadow, woodland, 

and river—all increasingly rare for visitors. These relatively quiet environments contrast to such places as the 

foot of Lower Yosemite or Bridalveil Fall in early spring, 

55 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

but no temple made with hands can compare with yosemite. every rock 

in its walls seems to glow with life. some lean back in majestic repose; 

others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousands of feet, advance 

beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, give welcome to 

storms and calms alike, seemingly unaware, yet heedless, of everything 

going on about them. J OHN MUIR • THE YOSEMITE • 1912 

with their roaring waters. These phenomena are an 

important part of the modern-day visitor experience, 

well worth documenting and protecting. 

GUIDELINES 

• Special attention should be paid to the protection 

of areas of Yosemite Valley that are currently free 

from artificial light and human-generated sound. 

• Refer to Siting and Building Orientation in the 

Unifying Elements for more guidelines on sound. 

The Valley Walls 

Rising dramatically from the Valley floor are sheer walls 

of granite. Formed in a distinctive U-shape by three 

major glacial periods, these cliffs are visible from almost 

every point in the Valley. Perhaps the most dramatic 

spatial characteristic of this landscape as a whole is the 

narrowness of Yosemite Valley in relation to the height 

of the walls enclosing it. The approximately 1:3 to 2:3 

vertical-horizontal ratio creates a highly unusual landscape that has historically influenced the location of 

development of the Valley. 

Horsetail Falls (2003) GH 

The often overwhelming visual impact of the flat 

Valley floor contrasted to the sheer cliffs (especially 

east-west views in the narrow section of the Valley) 

has drawn painters and photographers to capture these 

effects for over a century. This powerful combination 

imposes a dominant presence from almost any point 

in the Valley. 

The Valley walls provide a powerful context and 

backdrop for buildings placed on the Valley floor. Many 

historic buildings, such as The Ahwahnee, were designed 

and sited with the cliffs as a backdrop. Curry Village, by 

virtue of its small buildings, does not compete with its 

awesome setting but celebrates the difference in scale. 

Due to the geological forces which have shaped 

the Valley, the surrounding cliffs present the constant 

and unpredictable danger of rockfall. Periodic rockfall 

in Yosemite Valley is caused by freeze-thaw periods and 

earthquakes among other factors. Rockfall has created 

steep talus slopes on layers of colluvium in many 

locations along each side of the Valley (NPS 1978). 

GUIDELINES 

• New buildings in proximity to or within direct view 

line to cliffs in Yosemite Valley should incorporate these 

views as a part of the visual context of the building. 

• New building in close proximity to the cliffs should 

address the issues of building scale and massing in the 

context of the steep and dramatic cliffs. 

• Public gathering spaces, where possible and appropriate, 

should be oriented to views of the Valley walls as well 

as the landmark peaks and monolithic forms, such as 

Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Royal Arches. 

• Although there is historic precedent for development 

within the rockfall zone, new housing or lodging in 

proximity to the rockfall zone must be built in accordance with the Yosemite Valley Plan and as directed by 

National Park Service staff. 

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UPPER LEFT El Capitan (2004) GH MIDDLE LEFT Cathedral Rocks with Merced River (2004) GH ABOVE Cross sections of Yosemite Valley at various points 

57 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Waterfalls 

Yosemite Valley contains 

a number of magnificent 

waterfalls which have 

through time been a 

major attraction. Each 

spring the falls and rapids draw throngs of visitors to 

Yosemite, Vernal, Nevada, and Bridalveil falls, as well as 

to smaller waterfalls throughout the Valley. 

Evening Glow at Yosemite Falls, Chiura 

Obata, woodcut print, 1930 

In Yosemite Valley, developments and buildings 

have been sited around views of Yosemite Falls. As early 

as the late 1800s, vegetation was cleared to preserve 

these views. The plaza in Yosemite Village is oriented 

toward a view of Upper Yosemite Fall. The Ahwahnee 

dining room and the Mountain Room at Yosemite Lodge 

both feature views of Yosemite Falls. Trails provide 

views of Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls and its Middle 

Cascades from many different vantage points. 

GUIDELINES 

• Orient buildings, public open spaces, public roadways, 

pedestrian trails, and gathering places to provide 

views of waterfalls, when feasible and appropriate. 

• Manage plant communities through prescribed burning, 

pruning, and removal to maintain views to waterfalls, 

including important views from main roads. Refer to 

the Yosemite Valley Plan, the Vegetation Management Plan, 

and vegetation studies for specific areas of Yosemite 

Valley for more information. 

• Identify, plan, and manage vegetation for winter views 

of waterfalls when deciduous trees are leafless. 

• Refer also to Vegetation and Scenic Views in the 

Unifying Elements. 

Merced River System 

The Merced River, with its network of tributary streams 

(Yosemite Creek, Indian Canyon Creek, Royal Arch 

Creek, etc.) and unnamed annual drainages, provides 

a network that is central to the Valley’s scenery and 

ecological processes. 

NPS 

The Merced is a Wild and Scenic River. A 150-foot 

buffer zone to either side of the river, the River Protection 

Overlay, provides protection for natural flood flows, 

channel formation, riparian vegetation, and wildlife 

habitat. Ecological restoration of natural conditions 

within these zones is a high priority. While protection 

from human impact is the general goal, facilities such as 

roadways are sometimes allowed within the 150-foot 

setback zone within the River Protection Overlay as 

long as they meet the requirements of the Merced Wild 

and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. (This plan 

restricts development based on location, site conditions, 

and plan criteria.) 

The Merced River is subject to seasonal floods. 

There have been at least 5 severe floods in the last 100 

years. Some early Euro-American developments and later 

campgrounds that were sited near the river were damaged 

or destroyed by flooding. In fact, much of the redevelopment planned for Yosemite Valley is in response to damage 

caused by the flood of 1997. The Yosemite Valley Plan 

defines the 100-year floodplain where flood damage 

is most likely to occur, and sets restrictions on most 

developments within the floodplain. 

The natural processes of flooding and the slow 

migration of the Merced River channel across the Valley 

floor have resulted in a variety of associated landforms, 

such as low-lying wetlands and wet meadows. In some 

areas, bank erosion can temporarily damage or remove 

Merced River with spring runoff (1943) YRL- RA 

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U NIFYING E LEMENTS + G UIDELINES 

entering the valley, gazing overwhelmed with the multitude of grand objects around 

us, perhaps the first to fix our attention will be bridal veil, a beautiful waterfall on 

our right. its brow, where it first leaps free from the cliff, is about 900 feet above us; 

and as it sways and sings in the wind, clad in gauzy, sun-sifted spray, half falling, half 

floating, it seems infinitely gentle and fine; but the hymns it sings tell the solemn 

fateful power hidden beneath its soft clothing. JOHN MUIR • THE YOSEMITE • 1912 

riparian vegetation. Valuable riparian and wetland vegetation has also been removed by trampling and riprapping 

in many places along Yosemite, Indian Canyon, and 

Royal Arch creeks and many other unnamed seasonal 

drainages. Riparian vegetation is essential in retarding 

erosion and flooding. It also provides habitat for birds 

and other wildlife. 

Erosion of river bank near Yosemite Lodge (1929) YRL 

GUIDELINES 

• New buildings should be located outside the 100-year 

floodplain wherever possible, and in accordance 

with the River Protection Overlay as designated by 

the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 

Management Plan. 

• New developments should be located with consideration 

of the potential migration of the Merced River and 

associated streams, based on information from park 

resources staff and as designated by the Merced Wild 

and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. 

• Creeks, seasonal streams, and drainages feeding the 

Merced River that are designated as wetlands or have 

otherwise supported riparian vegetation should be 

restored or protected in accordance with park 

resources staff guidelines and as designated by the 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management 

Plan. New buildings, utilities, structures, boardwalks, 

and pavements should be sited at a sufficient distance 

to allow for such protection or restoration. 

• New development should not alter the alignment 

of natural drainages or cause erosion by altering 

surface flow. Buildings and structures should be sited 

sufficiently away from existing drainages to allow the 

drainages to run in their natural alignment. 

• Structures, utilities, foundations, boardwalks, paving, 

and subsurface base near the river and tributaries must 

be located and designed in such a way that they do not 

interrupt groundwater migration, recharge, or river 

channel migration. 

• Trails should provide visitors with places to pause and 

observe the river and creeks, and to gain access to the 

water. This must be done with sensitivity to riparian 

vegetation and bank stability. Viewpoints and water 

access should be situated on the side of the river bank 

that is not eroding, and should be accessible to persons 

with disabilities. 

SCENIC VIEWS 

The importance of the Valley’s outstanding scenery 

and the many associated viewpoints cannot be overemphasized. Early attempts to describe the scenery may 

have helped to shape modern definitions of scenic beauty. 

The early romantic writings and paintings have evolved 

today into a sophisticated component of environmental 

analysis involving systematic documentation of scenic 

resources found in park planning and management. 

Views of pastoral meadows, towering geologic 

features, and dramatic waterfalls have been recognized as 

some of the most valuable scenic resources of the Valley 

as long as humans have lived there. It is largely through 

the early writings, paintings, and photographs by 

nationally recognized artists and visitors that the beauty 

of the landscape came to the attention of the nation. 

These images played an important role in 19th-century 

59 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

The Yohamite Falls,Thomas A. Ayres,1855. This is the first published image of Yosemite 

Valley. Courtesy of the California Historical Society 

Washington, D.C., where they helped make the case to 

Congress that Yosemite Valley was worthy of special 

protection, and later, national park designation. 

In the spring of 1855, James M. Hutchings, having 

heard rumors of a waterfall a thousand feet high, organized the first tourist party to visit Yosemite, and upon 

his return, he engaged the pioneer lithographic firm of 

Britton & Rey to prepare a print of The Yo-Hamite Falls. 

Derived from a drawing by the artist Thomas A. Ayres, 

who had accompanied Hutchings into the mountains, it 

was the first image of the Valley published and helped to 

popularize the wonders of the Valley (CHS 2000). 

From the earliest development of visitor facilities 

in Yosemite Valley, views have been a major influence in 

the siting and orientation of structures. For example the 

Lower Hotel, constructed in 1856, was sited to take 

advantage of the view to Yosemite Falls. As one visitor 

put it, “comforts were at a minimum, but surrounding 

beauty so great that few lodgers complained.” In 1899, 

the site selected for Camp Curry was due in part to the 

views of Half Dome, Glacier Point, and other features. 

Likewise, the siting of The Ahwahnee in 1926 was greatly 

influenced by the spectacular views from its site; the 

main axis of the dining room was purposefully oriented 

toward the view of Yosemite Falls. 

Over the years, as development in the Valley 

increased, management of vegetation to retain significant 

views became an issue. In 1880 and again in 1886, the 

commissioner’s report noted that dense underbrush in the 

Valley floor had begun to block the Valley’s magnificent 

views. In 1890, trees were felled around the Stoneman 

House to permit views to Yosemite Falls. That same year 

the commissioners announced a policy to clear the Valley 

of underbrush and restore the long vistas of the Valley’s 

1851 park-like setting. This practice continues today. 

During the preparation of the General Management 

Plan, the scenic resources of the Valley were analyzed to 

determine their historic and existing conditions. (Frissel 

et al. 1979) Lands within the Valley were classified 

according to three quality levels. The highest quality 

scenic vistas include Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, 

El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Three Brothers, Cathedral 

Rocks, Sentinel Rock, Glacier Point, North Dome, 

Washington Column, and Royal Arches. The General 

Management Plan identified twelve points in the Valley 

consistently selected by 19th-century photographers 

such as Carleton Watkins, Eadweard Muybridge, George 

Fiske, and Charles Weed. In the General Management Plan, 

an attempt was made to reconcile the emotional response 

to these scenic resources and the need to objectively 

quantify scenery. The information gathered in this 

analysis was used to make recommendations about where 

to build, where not to build, and how to mitigate the 

built environment. According to an analysis of scenic 

resources, these historic views contribute to the character of the cultural landscape in Yosemite Valley. Although 

some views have been somewhat obscured by the growth 

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of vegetation, these views continued to inspire artists 

such as Ralph Anderson, Ansel Adams, Chiura Obata, 

and Tom Killion. 

GUIDELINES 

• Align roads and pedestrian walkways for views 

to prominent scenic features wherever possible. 

Views should be organizing elements for the site 

planning process. 

• The design of buildings, the siting and arrangement 

of clusters of buildings, and the layout of public open 

spaces should be done in a manner that recognizes and 

maximizes scenic resources. 

• Manage vegetation to preserve historically documented 

views from roads, trails, and vista points. 

• Short range views of creeks, significant boulders, 

or vegetation such as California black oak clusters 

that have special interpretive value should be 

described, restored, or maintained, subject to 

environmental review. 

• Plant, trim, or clear trees and shrubs, as appropriate, 

to frame, emphasize, or open up views as allowed 

under Valleywide resources management policies. 

Modify vegetation to take advantage of seasonal views 

(i.e., views through deciduous trees in the winter). 

Winter in Yosemite Valley, Albert Bierstadt, oil on paper, 1872. Garzoli Gallery, 

San Rafael, CA 

VEGETATION 

Natural vegetation in Yosemite Valley can be grouped 

into four major communities: mixed conifer, oak woodland, riparian, and meadow. Mixed conifer communities 

border the Valley in higher and drier zones and cover 

almost half of the Valley floor. Oak woodlands are composed of California black oaks, covering less than 5% of 

the Valley floor, and live oaks, which occupy about 20%. 

California black oaks are typically located on the edge of 

meadows. Live oak communities are found on upland 

areas as well as drier parts of the talus slopes. Riparian 

and meadow communities each occupy about 10% of the 

Valley floor. Riparian vegetation along the Merced River 

includes willows, black cottonwood, and white alder. At 

the edge of the meadow, between meadow and forest, lies 

the ecotone, a zone of mixed height vegetation including 

low shrub and small trees. The vegetation in this area is 

dense and varied, and provides an important habitat for 

many forms of wildlife. 

All vegetation communities in Yosemite Valley have 

been altered by human intervention. American Indian 

fire management, Euro-American fire suppression, and the 

introduction of non-native vegetation for forage and food 

production have contributed to the changing and often 

fragile state of vegetation in the Valley. Non-native vegetation was introduced in the 1800s by Euro-Americans 

planting orchards and farming. Non-native grasses, 

dominant in meadow areas, were probably introduced 

inadvertently in connection with livestock. Today the 

watering of non-native vegetation in residential areas 

affects many species of native plants. Oak trees are particularly sensitive to changes in ground moisture conditions. 

Since World War II, revegetation has occurred in 

every developed area throughout the Valley, emphasizing 

the use of native plants. Oak woodland restoration and 

meadow preservation are recent strategies for enhancing 

the historic character and setting of Yosemite Valley. 

Some recent detailed studies, such as root rot surveys, 

relate to these efforts. 

61 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

As long as humans have lived in Yosemite Valley, 

meadows have been managed in one form or another. 

American Indians burned the meadows to make it easier 

to flush out game and forage for seeds and acorns. Later, 

the meadows were used by settlers for agriculture and 

grazing. By 1888, the commissioners of Yosemite Valley 

issued a policy for management of the meadows that 

would restore the landscape to its 1851 appearance. Fire 

management was discontinued in the 1850s, which 

encouraged the encroachment of trees in to the meadows. 

Although they advocated keeping maintenance to a minimum, it was also evident that a relatively high level of 

landscape maintenance would be required to retain the 

open character of the meadows and oak woodlands, and 

to keep long sweeping views across the Valley floor. 

Through the early 1900s, pasturage was limited in the 

meadows to ensure that the grasses and flowers had time 

to seed. It is believed that the blasting of a glacial 

moraine in 1879 near El Capitan contributed to a drop 

in ground water level, causing meadows and wetland 

areas adjacent to the river to become drier. This had the 

effect of allowing the encroachment of conifers which in 

turn shaded out the black oaks. The result was a more 

fragile system easily damaged by trampling and excavation, especially during the dry months. 

In the 1930s, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 

altered vegetation throughout Yosemite Valley. With the 

goal of opening up vistas, screening buildings, and 

improving the appearance of developed areas, CCC crews 

transplanted, pruned, and removed vegetation. Close to 

building foundations, they planted a variety of native, 

non-native, and non-Valley species, including azalea, 

fern, spice bush, woodwardia, manzanita, chinquapin oak, 

lily, incense-cedar, aspen, lupine, maple, sugar maple, 

black locust, giant sequoia, and mountain mahogany. 

The CCC also maintained trees along road corridors, 

cutting dead limbs from oak trees and routinely grubbing 

up seedling trees in meadows. 

During the 1970s, the National Park Service took 

a more passive stance toward vegetation in the Valley, 

particularly in the meadows. The result has been a 

Civilian Conservation Corps at work 

(ca. 1930s) YRL 

significant encroachment of 

plants—mostly conifers— 

into formerly open spaces. In 

some cases the plants have 

grown large enough to block 

important scenic views. 

The meadows have 

been reduced by almost 

50% since the 19th century. 

However, they remain an 

important landscape feature. 

As part of the pattern of 

open space in Yosemite Valley, they provide crucial foreground for spectacular vistas of surrounding natural 

monuments. The open, sunlit carpets of grasses, wildflowers, and other perennials provide a sanctuary for 

rodents, animals, reptiles, birds, and insects. This is 

especially true at the edges where the mixed shrub height 

provides transition from forest trees to meadow grasses. 

It is important to recognize that the plant communities and meadows of the Valley are constantly changing. 

The Vegetation Management Plan recognizes that vegetation 

is “dynamic in form and function,” and that the complexity of “plant communities, cultural landscapes, 

human impacts, development and management zoning” 

in the Valley must be taken into consideration. The 

changing pattern of plants on the Valley floor also 

reflects the fact that the Merced River has meandered 

across the width of the Valley for thousands of years. 

Recent floods and bank cutting suggest it is continuing 

to do so, and plant community boundaries will most 

likely continue to change. 

The Vegetation Management Plan for Yosemite National 

Park sets out management strategies and techniques for 

the treatment of vegetation in the Valley. All actions 

related to the removal of plants, modification by trimming, structural removal of limbs, the addition of new 

plants, and irrigation and fertilization of plants must 

comply both with this plan and with the policies of park 

resources staff. National Park Service Management Policies, 

Chapter 4 (NPS 2001b) and relevant ongoing studies in 

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TOP LEFT Meadow grasses (2004) TP TOP RIGHT Upper Yosemite Valley from Rocky Point (1946) YRL-RA BOTTOM Cluster of oak trees at forest edge (1945) YRL-RA 

63 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

the Valley (e.g., root rot and wetland identification 

efforts) must also be consulted. (The Comprehensive 

Landscape and Revegetation Plan of March 1999 is 

one example.) 

GUIDELINES 

• Although there is historic precedent for building lodging 

and parking areas in meadows, this should no longer 

be allowed. The meadows in Yosemite Valley are 

unique, fragile, and have great scenic and historic 

value. Identified in the Merced Wild and Scenic River 

Comprehensive Management Plan as part of the Valley’s 

biological Outstandingly Remarkable Value, meadows 

should be managed as wetlands and stabilized grasslands. They should be protected from any cross-circulation or development. 

• With the exception of an occasional overlook or boardwalk, no structures should be placed in a meadow. 

Instead, preserve meadows for passive pedestrian 

activities such as viewing scenic features. Structures 

Rangers’ Club at edge of meadow 

California black oak 

should be held wherever possible to the forest edge of 

the ecotone zone (see sketch at lower left). 

• New development should minimize impact to the 

mosaic of woodland types consistent with the objectives of the park resources staff and the Merced Wild 

and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. 

• New development should be done in a manner that 

avoids or minimizes the removal of or damage to highly 

valued vegetation, such as deciduous oaks. 

• Consider the age and health of plant communities when 

siting buildings and other structures. For example, 

consider locating new buildings in areas where diseased 

or hazard trees might be selected for removal by park 

resources staff. Avoid locating new buildings or structures where they will disrupt natural processes or 

accelerate disease of plant communities, thereby 

creating hazardous conditions. (See National Park 

Service hazard tree removal guidelines.) 

• Plant, trim, or clear trees and shrubs as appropriate 

to frame, emphasize, or open up views, in accordance 

with park resources staff policies. 

• When trees are planned in new developed areas, considerations should be given to the use of deciduous 

trees to enhance winter views and increase daylight 

and solar gain during the winter season. 

• Consistent with National Park Service and resources 

management goals, protect and enhance existing 

special and valued plant communities such as oak 

woodlands, riparian vegetation, meadows, and ecotone 

areas. For example, mixed height shrub-tree zones 

adjacent to meadows can provide shelter and forage 

areas for birds, deer, and small animals. Create opportunities for wildlife viewing that are consistent with park 

resources staff guidelines and Valley interpretive 

goals. These can occur in conjunction with pedestrian 

pathways or in secluded landscapes. 

• The corridors of riparian vegetation along the banks 

of creeks and drainages leading to the river should be 

protected and, where appropriate, restored, consistent 

with the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 

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U NIFYING E LEMENTS + G UIDELINES 

Management Plan and park resources staff policies.


Restoring riparian vegetation at the Merced River


banks will also improve wildlife habitat.


• Views from the river of spectacular Valley features are 

part of the Scenic Outstandingly Remarkable Value for 

the Merced River. Restoration of the river banks should 

provide places to pause and observe the river—at the 

river’s edge, from its bridges, and from identified scenic 

viewpoints. For more guidelines, refer to the Merced 

Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. 

• Use only native plants grown from material sourced in 

the Valley for designated landscape projects throughout Yosemite Valley. Where appropriate, use native 

deciduous and flowering plants that demonstrate 

seasonal change for the visiting public. 

• The plant palette and use of vegetation for each 

developed area should be devised in consultation with 

park natural resource specialists to reflect appropriate 

native plant communities associations and anticipated 

natural succession. 

• Selection and spacing of plant material for screening, 

ecological restoration, or other design objectives should 

be modeled after and integrated with the natural plant 

mosaic found where development is planned. 

• Planting for screening or in connection with other 

design objectives in new developments should emphasize 

natural massing and spacing of plants. 

• Selection and use of vegetation should assume sustainable maintenance practices. The need for irrigation or 

high maintenance should be minimized or avoided. 

• New or refurbished planting in developed areas that 

requires irrigation should be limited to areas outside 

the dripline of native oaks and other sensitive drought 

tolerant native species. 

• Healthy native vegetation to be removed for new 

development should be salvaged wherever feasible and 

used for revegetation purposes in consultation with 

park staff. 

Valley oak in sunlight (2003) GH 

• Do not plant species such as conifers that will crowd 

out or shade out newly planted or existing oaks. 

• Planting projects should recognize the ultimate 

height and spread (among other characteristics) of 

the mature plants. When new trees are planted, care 

should be taken that they will not obscure views 

when they mature. 

• Planting close to buildings is now recognized as a fire 

hazard. Consider using low fuel species in the vicinity 

of buildings, provided that they are native to Yosemite 

Valley. Choice of vegetation, location, and spacing 

must conform to the Yosemite National Park Fire 

Management Plan (NPS 2004c). 

• To minimize building maintenance and prevent damage 

to building foundations, trees should be planted at a 

distance reflecting the mature size and growth characteristics as well as anticipated maintenance levels. 

• Planted areas within the core of developed areas should 

be large enough to provide adequate soil, air, and 

water to support healthy vegetation. They should 

be separated from pedestrian areas by grade changes 

or low timber or boulder barriers. This will prevent 

trespassing and enhance overall maintenance efficiency. 

Refer to Barriers, Fences, and Benches in Unifying 

Elements for more guidelines on barriers. 

65 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

landscape uses/structures 

LAND USE + SPATIAL ORGANIZATION 

Human activity in Yosemite Valley has been constricted 

by the steep Valley walls, and further limited by the 

meandering course of the Merced River. The river flows 

generally east to west, defining the center of the Valley 

and creating an ecological zone that unifies and influences 

the mosaic of meadows and woodland areas. Above the 

palustrine zone,

10 the Valley floor typically steps up in 

elevation and forms a broad shelf to the toe of the talus 

slopes at the bases of the cliff walls (NPS 2004d). 

A key spatial characteristic of the Valley is the 

pattern of open meadows alternating with stands of 

oaks and conifers. This pattern of open and canopied 

spaces through the Valley defines the overall park-like 

character of the landscape. From this pattern emerges a 

series of long views and specific views to features such 

as Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and the 

Merced River (NPS 2004d). 

Developments in Yosemite Valley have historically 

occurred in concentrated nodes at its eastern end. The 

six major developed areas—The Ahwahnee, Curry 

Village, Yosemite Lodge, Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite 

Village, and the campgrounds—support the needs of 

visitors and National Park Service administration. Each 

of these areas provides guest accommodations, visitor 

services, and recreation opportunities. The overall 

pattern of concentrated developed areas in the Valley 

has remained in place over time. While changes within 

individual developed areas have taken place (such as the 

Cabins set in the trees, Curry Village 

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U NIFYING E LEMENTS + G UIDELINES 

Cascades cabins, 2003 (no longer extant) 

redevelopment of Yosemite Village and Yosemite Lodge), 

these changes have occurred within the historic footprint 

of development since 1942 (NPS 2004d). 

In addition to these primary developed areas, there 

are day-use parking areas, campgrounds, picnic areas, 

interpretive wayside exhibits, trails, stables, multi-use 

paths, and other visitor resources in the Valley. 

GUIDELINES 

• Siting and scale of new structures and building clusters 

within developed areas should not physically or visually 

extend beyond designated development areas. 

• Adequately sized buffer zones of open space or vegetative screening should be established and/or maintained 

between components in developed areas which are 

stylistically or historically distinct, consistent with 

park resources staff policies and goals, and detailed 

vegetation studies. 

CIRCULATION 

Northside and Southside drives, located on either side 

of the Merced River, create a framework for circulation 

in the Valley. This framework is enhanced by a series 

of turnouts oriented to views, interpretative wayside 

exhibits, and trails. Secondary roads provide access to 

major and minor developed areas. These roads often 

provide visitors with quintessential views of natural 

features while also orienting them to specific destination 

points. A mixture of concentrated parking areas and 

informal turnouts are located along the roads and 

developed areas. Parking lots are paved in asphalt or 

gravel and are generally placed in front of the pedestrian 

entry point or building of most developed areas. 

In addition to the vehicular routes, a network of 

hiking, biking, equestrian, and pedestrian ways connect 

visitor attractions with lodging, employee housing, 

administrative offices, and visitor services. Although the 

distinctions are not always clear within developed areas, 

Ahwahnee Bridge with Half Dome (2004) GH 

67 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Trail to Lower Yosemite Fall (2004) RF 

circulation routes are typically hierarchical and include 

primary entries, pedestrian plazas and gathering areas, 

walkways, and footpaths. In less developed areas, pedestrian access is informal in nature typically along asphalt, 

packed decomposed granite, gravel, or dirt trails (some 

with no edge markers or curbs). In meadows or wetlands, 

boardwalks are used to protect sensitive resources. 

GUIDELINES 

• The design and alignment of new roads should respond 

to natural conditions and features, such as topography, 

boulders, healthy trees, and drainages so as to remain 

subdominant to the landscape. Graceful curving alignments based on low speeds should be used to impart 

a sense of a rural road fitting naturally in the landscape, while conforming to applicable safety standards. 

Consideration should be given to the protection of 

natural quiet areas from motorized sounds. 

• Roadway width and edge treatment should be designed 

to help the visitor distinguish a hierarchical circulation 

pattern and make wayfinding easy and logical with a 

minimum of directional signage. 

• Whenever appropriate and in order to enhance interpretive opportunities, roadways and trails should 

remain on alignments of historic roads and trails. 

Snow on path,Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH 

• Primary and secondary roadways should be sited with 

an emphasis on the driver’s visual experience. As a new 

road approaches a developed area, it should be aligned 

to provide a view of significant natural features where 

possible. Parking lots should not distract from this 

view opportunity. 

• Within a developed area, align approach roads to the 

entry point or building. This view should be clear and 

obvious and not blocked by parked cars or buses. 

• Facilities should be sited to encourage use of public 

transportation. Convenient access should be provided 

to park transit systems, bus stops, bikeways, walkways, 

and hiking trails. 

• Visitors should be able to find their way easily on 

clearly delineated pedestrian and bicycle paths that by 

virtue of width, pavement type, and edge treatment 

are easily distinguishable as non-vehicular routes. 

• New paths and walkways in developed areas should be 

compatible with existing materials, widths, and alignments where feasible. 

• Trail and walkway alignments should be natural in 

character, following site contours and edges of vegetation, and incorporating rock formations, trees, and 

views of scenic features. 

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• The layout and design character of pedestrian walkways 

should provide for a relaxed pace and a sequence of 

positive visual experiences. In low pedestrian concentration areas, trails should have an informal meandering, 

slow-paced character, allowing visitors to come upon 

surprise views, wayside interpretive plaques, or places 

to pause and take in the scenery. 

• Materials used for surfacing trails should be compatible 

with their surroundings. In developed areas, exposed 

aggregate, pigmented concrete, and surface-treated 

asphalt may be appropriate. In more isolated areas, 

decomposed granite, gravel, stabilized soil, and other 

hardened surfaces should be used, as appropriate. 

All-season, hard surface paths should be built with 

materials that are readily maintained, durable, and 

easily cleared of snow and ice. 

PARKING 

The first automobile—a “Locomobile” driven by Oliver 

Lippincott—arrived in Yosemite Valley in June of 1900. 

That year Foley’s “The Yosemite Tourist” announced “the 

auto will soon become a prominent factor in Yosemite 

travel” (Johnston 1995). By the 1920s, automobiles filled 

the parking lot at Government Center (later Yosemite 

Village) (Sargent 1993). According to photographs of 

the period, visitors were allowed to drive into and park 

on open meadows. 

Over the years, relatively small parking areas were 

added where they were deemed necessary. Where more 

parking was needed, the additions were placed adjacent 

or close to existing parking areas to avoid trees, wetlands, 

trails, etc. This has resulted in a more or less informal 

pattern of parking areas. 

Ahwahnee Bridge (2004) RF 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Today, with increasing visitation to Yosemite 

National Park, parking for private vehicles has become 

a major concern. Parking is potentially one of the most 

destructive of all human-caused intrusions into the 

natural environment, in terms of ecological, visual, 

auditory, and air and water quality impacts. Where 

parking is provided, it must be done sensitively, with 

minimal impact on the land. In addition, views of 

parked cars must be mitigated both from the ground 

and from elevated viewpoints such as Glacier Point. 

The larger the number of automobiles, the more difficult 

it is to mitigate the effects of such concentrations. 

Planning and siting for parking calls for careful site 

analysis, documentation of resources (such as wetlands, 

drainages, healthy trees and vegetation, wildlife habitats, 

etc.), and evaluation of short- and long-term, direct and 

indirect impacts. 

GUIDELINES 

• Parking areas should not detract from the views of 

significant natural or historic features. 

• Siting of parking should take into consideration the 

impacts of vehicle-generated noise such as idling 

buses, trucks, motorcycles, etc. on special auditory 

environments such as quiet meadows or forests, or 

areas of river sounds such as rapids. 

• Turn-offs to parking areas should be clearly indicated 

with signage that blends with the surrounding 

natural features. 

• Parking areas should be screened as much as possible 

from the main valley circulation and developed areas. 

• Retain the traditional pattern of small partially 

separated clusters of parking areas. 

Parked cars at New Yosemite Village (date unknown) YRL 

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Site sensitive parking layout 

• Parking and parking access roads should be sited in 

areas of dry or naturally well-drained soils and/or 

conifer groves and not in or in close proximity to black 

oak groves, wetlands, and riparian corridors tributary 

to the Merced River. Refer to zoning prescriptions 

outlined in the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 

Management Plan. 

• Parking and parking access roads should never be 

allowed in existing meadows or areas of potential 

meadow restoration. 

• Natural features (e.g., healthy shrubs, boulders, trees, 

etc.) should be incorporated into parking areas, where 

feasible, to help break up the size of the parking areas 

and visually buffer them from developed and natural 

areas. Grading and paving should not extend within 

the drip line of trees to be saved. 

• Design of parking-area roads should adjust to and 

protect natural conditions and features such as 

wetlands, healthy trees, boulder groupings. 

• Align parking rows parallel to the contour. This will 

allow for plantable intervening grade changes wide 

enough to support planting to screen vehicles. 

• Avoid placing parking in designated view corridors. 

If that is unavoidable, align parking at right angles to 

view line. This will allow for low vegetative screening 

of parked cars when seen from a through road or 

prominent public space. Low shrub planting of 

National Park Service-approved, Valley-sourced natives 

not exceeding 4 to 6 feet in height, or larger trees 

adequately spaced will mitigate the visual impact of 

automobiles while allowing for scenic views. 

• Parking lanes and bay groupings should be spaced 

adequately to allow for corridors of vegetation and, 

where appropriate, pedestrian paths or boardwalks in 

wet soil areas. The width should be adequate to allow 

for healthy vegetation and the path to meander around 

trees and boulders. Refer to Circulation section of this 

chapter for more guidelines on pedestrian ways. 

• Pedestrian ways within parking areas should be laid out 

to take advantage of natural features such as healthy 

trees, riparian vegetation, boulders, and scenic views. 

• Paving for pedestrian ways in developed areas should 

be distinguished by material and edging from vehicular 

ways and should be continuous, clearly leading the 

pedestrian from the parking area to visitor services. 

Surface-treated AC paving as is used in the Lower 

Yosemite Fall trail area would be appropriate. Pedestrian 

ways should avoid removal or damage to trees, shrubs, 

and meadow vegetation. 

• Integrate pedestrian ways in parking areas to maximize 

pedestrian safety and provide logical and convenient 

routes to vehicular free zones. (See also the Circulation 

section of this chapter.) 

• Configure parking access lanes with irregular alignments 

and interrupt parking bays around irregularly spaced 

trees, either existing or planted, in order to avoid long 

straight rows of parked cars or buses. 

• Where winter use of parking areas is not anticipated 

(where snow removal is not required) and where such 

areas are less than a 10% gradient, consider the use of 

porous paving materials such as park-sourced compacted 

gravel or decomposed granite. 

71 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

it is possible for markers and related devices to capture and convey 

in greater degree than most other park structures the spirit of a particular area. it is their function, and by no means a minor one, to accent, 

to ‘highlight,’ whatever might be termed the essential personality of 

a park. A LBER T H. GOOD • PARK AND RECREATION STRUCTURES • 1938 

• Access roads or parking areas within the River 

Protection Overlay zone must comply with the Merced 

Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. 

• Runoff and snowmelt from paved parking areas should 

be guided to mechanical or biological filters (such as 

bio-swales and filter ponds) to capture pollutants 

before reaching the Merced River or its tributaries. 

• Based on parking area size, plan for and designate adequate snow storage areas which do not damage natural 

vegetation and in a manner which allows for filtering 

of pollutants from the snow melt. 

• Provide interpretive displays and directional signage 

where appropriate along paths of concentrated pedestrian traffic leading from parking areas to pedestrian 

activity centers. Such displays and signage should 

conform to Valleywide standards and while easily 

discernable should be located and designed to blend 

with the natural surroundings. 

• Refer to the Lighting section of this chapter for 

guidelines on lighting for parking areas. 

ENTRANCE MARKERS 

Entrances to some developed areas in Yosemite Valley are 

announced with a visually significant marker in a style 

that is appropriate to that development. The Ahwahnee 

has a masonry gate shelter set into a large granite block. 

Camp Curry has a lighted, unpeeled log welcome sign 

that acts as a gateway to the village commons. 

GUIDELINES 

• Where an entrance marker is required it should be 

sited and designed to be compatible with surrounding 

natural setting and the architectural character of the 

associated complex. 

• Design and detailing of entrance markers at gateways 

to different areas should use rustic Sierra materials 

(e.g., granite boulders, heavy timbers, unpeeled logs, 

etc.) representative of the area and the Valley. New 

entrance markers should be made of materials in 

common with their development, like the granite 

used at The Ahwahnee gatehouse or the logs used in 

the Camp Curry welcome sign. 

The Ahwahnee Entrance Marker 

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Camp Curry entrance marker 

• Graphics, color, lettering style, lighting, etc. of the 

entrance marker should be compatible with the spirit 

of the developed area. 

• Roadside markers should be in conformance with 

National Park Service road standards for safety 

and visibility. 

SMALL BUILDINGS 

Small buildings throughout the park accommodate visitor 

activities away from the main centers of developed areas. 

They include comfort stations, shower houses, kiosks, 

storage sheds, and miscellaneous shelters including 

cooking and picnic shelters. (Shuttle bus shelters are 

addressed in a separate chapter.) These buildings are 

often solitary structures in locations such as campgrounds 

or trails, and are also used as ancillary structures within a 

development where the character is defined by larger 

buildings. This building type should be designed to 

adapt to local site conditions. 

Entrance kiosks, comfort stations, and shower 

houses provide public accommodations in campgrounds. 

In keeping with traditional National Park Service design 

principles, these buildings are typically designed with 

a consistent architectural character. In campgrounds, a 

comfort station may be the largest building, but it is 

seen as one of a set of landscape elements that includes 

picnic tables, benches, barriers, and footbridges. Because 

all of these elements contribute to the character of the 

site, they typically share character-defining features 

such as color and materials. 

During the 1920s and 1930s, the National Park 

Service recognized the importance of small buildings 

and related landscape elements. Standard designs were 

developed and included in portfolios that were circulated 

throughout the National Park Service as well as in state 

parks (McClelland 1998). In 1935, a compilation of 

illustrated examples from national and state parks was 

published in an influential book by Albert Good entitled 

Park and Recreation Structures. This publication continues 

to be a useful reference. 

The standard design for comfort stations consists 

of simple, rustic, wood-frame buildings with gable roofs 

and shake roof covering. These were typically rectangular 

in plan with entrances at each end. This basic design 

was adapted to different sites using variations of rustic 

treatments including a stone base, exposed wood posts, 

infill wall panels of wood boards, exposed rafters, gable 

roofs, wood shingle or shake roof covering, and muted 

colors. Nine comfort stations were constructed in the 

Yosemite Valley campgrounds during the 1920s. The 

comfort stations in Yosemite Valley typically used a 

wood frame with exposed posts, exposed rafters, and no 

gutter or fascia. The comfort station built at Yosemite 

Falls in 2004 shares many features with the standard 

design of the 1920s, including entrances at both ends, a 

gable roof, muted colors, wood siding, and a stone base. 

Shower houses and comfort stations have similar 

functional requirements, and they are typically designed 

as companion buildings. Designed with rustic character, 

their utilitarian purpose is expressed with compactness 

and simplicity. 

Park entrances and entrance kiosks define the 

entrance and serve as a point of contact between the 

park service and the visitor. At less developed areas in 

the Valley, they function as entrance markers. A porch is 

an important element of the kiosk, providing for shelter 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

TOP LEFT Comfort station at the stables (2004) GH MIDDLE LEFT Small building at the stables (2004) GH TOP RIGHT Small bathhouse plan and section 

BOTTOM Comfort station at Union Point (1932) YRL-RA 

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and signage. Kiosks that are managed by park personnel 

are typically open and have a welcoming aspect. Kiosks 

also serve as information centers, and therefore function 

informally as gathering places for visitors. Day-use 

shelters provide basic accommodations for outdoor 

gatherings. They consist primarily of a roof, a supporting 

structural frame, and a paved floor. They sometimes 

include accessories such as fireplaces and furniture, and 

are often the focal point of an open recreational space. 

GUIDELINES 

• In undeveloped locations such as picnic areas and 

campgrounds, small buildings should minimize visual 

intrusion and blend with the natural setting. They can 

be easily sited around natural features such as trees 

and boulders in order to minimize their visual impact 

in the landscape. 

• Comfort stations and shower houses should make use 

of the rustic elements of the classic National Park 

Service designs. These include a standard plan, a gable 

roof, the use of exposed wood framing and siding, and 

natural colors. They should consist of simple one story, 

rectangular shapes with a main gable roof. Entrances 

should be at the gable ends. 

• Guest service aids should be clustered in small buildings 

or combined with comfort stations or similar small 

structures. Functional and convenience equipment such 

as telephone booths, vending machines, etc. should be 

integrated as essential design requirements, receding 

into alcoves, so as not to distract from the overall character of the building. They should be placed under 

shelter, in porches, and should not be freestanding. 

• Where telephone booths must be freestanding they 

should be placed in shielded wooden enclosures with 

controlled lighting. See Lighting in Unifying Elements 

for more guidelines. 

• Small buildings are unifying elements throughout the 

Valley by virtue of their modest scale, standard color, 

and consistent rustic design. 

• Roof forms are typically gable, with a medium pitch 

of at least 5-in-12, with overhangs that shed snow and 

water. Roof framing should be slightly oversized with 

exposed rafters. Roofs should be clad with asphalt 

shingles in compliance with Class A fire requirements. 

• Façades should be modest in character. They should 

have a protective base of masonry or board-formed 

concrete. The upper walls should have one material 

treatment. Board and batten is the recommended siding 

pattern, using full size 1x4 battens and 1x12 boards of 

resawn western red cedar, with tight knots. 

• Doors and windows should be arranged in regular 

patterns. Metal-clad wood windows are recommended, 

with recessed jambs and a wood sill piece. 

• An opaque stain should be used for all wood elements 

including siding and exposed framing members. Doors 

and window frames should be painted. 

• Refer to Building Exterior and Lighting in Unifying 

Elements for more guidelines on appropriate color and 

exterior lighting. 

Cascades cabin, 2003 (no longer extant) 

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TOP Footbridge BOTTOM Culvert 

MASONRY, FOOTBRIDGES, CULVER T 

CROSSINGS, RETAINING WALLS + 

BOARDWALKS 

There is little evidence describing the structure and 

character of footbridges in Yosemite Valley before the 

advent of the National Park Service Rustic style of 

the 1920s. The 2004 National Register Nomination for 

Yosemite Valley refers to the many footbridges that 

crossed the Merced River and its tributaries over the 

years, but notes that only the footbridge at Housekeeping 

Camp and Superintendent’s Bridge contribute to the 

period of historic significance. 

These Rustic-style stone and timber structures 

echo smaller footbridges of concrete and worked granite 

boulders scattered throughout the Valley. These bridges 

are detailed and scaled to convey a sense of being handmade with locally sourced materials. The walkway of 

granite boulder bridges is usually flanked by low stone 

curb walls. Smaller modern timber bridges and boardwalks have a heavy plank walking surface with either 

raised timber curbs or handrails. Examples include the 

main bridge below Lower Yosemite Fall and other 

bridges crossing branches of Yosemite Creek downstream. 

Other examples can be seen at Happy Isles and several 

meadow viewpoints or crossings. The unique bench-bridge 

near The Ahwahnee is an exception. 

Culvert headwalls are consistently built of dry 

laid or mortared natural stone. Both rough-worked and 

weathered boulders are used to armor the steep slopes 

flanking the open ends of culverts throughout the 

Valley. The walkway over the larger culverts may be 

flanked by low boulder curbs. At all of these crossings 

the boulder size appears to be such that one or two 

workers could lift them into place, reinforcing the handmade quality. No false rock or plastic wood is used in 

these structures, allowing them to blend well with the 

surrounding landscape. 

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There are relatively few historic walls in the Valley 

designed to retain slopes, since most roads and buildings 

were built on flat terrain, and earth moving capacities in 

the late 19th and early 20th centuries were limited. Where 

retention of a slope for a road, building, or outdoor use 

area was necessary, low dry-laid walls of local stone 

(and in some cases large individual boulders) were used. 

These walls are mostly found in trail structures and 

roads leading out of the Valley. Historic photographs 

show small-scale gravity walls in the Valley with larger 

rocks at the base of the wall. The size of the rocks 

decreases with the height of the wall. Later walls were 

built of reinforced concrete, some with stone veneers. 

GUIDELINES 

Masonry + Concrete Walls 

• Stone for masonry structures, whether gravity or 

mortared, should match the color and character of 

the nearest talus or scree slope. Wall design and finish 

should match or be complementary to adjacent elements 

such as exposed foundations of adjacent buildings in 

developed areas. Weathered granite should be used when 

available. As it is not permitted to gather granite from 

within the park, Sierra granite must come from quarries 

outside the park. However, small quantities of granite 

may be available as a result of other construction or 

maintenance projects within the park. Imitation 

materials should not be used. 

• Larger stones and boulders are more in scale with the 

wilderness landscape in undeveloped areas. Round 

stones, such as river washed cobbles, do not have a 

structural appearance and therefore are not appropriate, 

in most cases. 

• Gravity or stone veneer walls should reflect Rustic 

style hand construction. The largest boulders should 

be set at the base of the wall, partially below grade. 

Boulders should gradually diminish in size in the 

upper part of the wall. 

Lower wall of Museum (2004) GH 

• Where mortared masonry is appropriate, finished 

jointing patterns should be random with deep-raked 

mortar joints, as found on historic structures in the 

Valley. Avoid obvious vertical and horizontal alignment of joints. 

• Where concrete is exposed, it should have a roughsawn, form board surface. 

Footbridges + Boardwalks 

• New bridges should not impede the flow of water. 

The hydrologic processes of rivers, streams, and tributaries should be protected during both low and high 

water periods. 

• Footbridges should be located at crossings that are 

documented as historic or along historic trail routes. 

• Footbridge abutments and superstructures should 

have a character of having been built by hand. 

• Abutments for foot bridges should be constructed of 

dry stacked or deep raked mortared stone. Use stone 

veneer or form board surface for exposed concrete. 

• Decking for free-span bridges should make use of 

heavy, rough-sawn planks. Log sub-structures should 

be used where feasible. Weathered steel or concrete 

girders may be used and should not be disguised. 

• Guardrails for non-historic bridges should be constructed out of sanded timbers or peeled logs mounted 

on sturdy supports. The use of natural weathering 

steel for components of the structure is optional. The 

handrail and cap should be of wood. (Western red, 

Port Orford, or Alaska yellow cedars are appropriate 

choices for handrails as they do not splinter easily.) 

77 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Boardwalk in meadow, Yosemite Valley (2004) TP 

• Bridge construction activities on the Merced River 

are subject to Section 7 determination, in keeping 

with the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 

Management Plan and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 

• At path or trail crossings of meadows, wetlands, or 

other sensitive plant or soil conditions, simple NPS 

boardwalks should be employed. The standard design 

of heavy planks and edging helps define the appropriate 

route and discourages trampling of vegetation. The 

entire structure is held slightly above native soil level 

to prevent soil compaction. Regardless of the type of 

planking used, the finished product must meet accessibility guidelines regarding slip resistance, curbs, etc. 

Small Scale Culvert Crossings 

• Headwalls for small drainage culverts in public view 

should be constructed of dry-laid natural stone or 

mortared boulders where appropriate. A single large 

slab of granite may also be appropriate (see illustration page 76). 

Landscape Retaining Walls 

• Wherever possible, avoid grading that results in the 

need for artificial slope retention. 

• Where retaining walls are needed, and are structurally 

appropriate, gravity-type walls constructed of large 

Sierra granite boulders or dry laid granite slabs should 

be used. 

• Wall ends should return into the adjacent slope. 

GRADING + DRAINAGE 

Until the arrival of large mechanized earth moving 

equipment, modification of landform in the Valley was 

minimal. Early photographs indicate that most builders 

used stepped foundations to adapt buildings to the 

existing slope, rather than changing or flattening the slope. 

GUIDELINES 

• Buildings, roads, and structures should be sited in a 

manner that avoids landform modification to the 

greatest extent possible, thereby helping to preserve 

the Valley plain and side slopes. 

• Minimize cut and fill operation of a development to 

protect the existing soil profile and ground water 

recharge functions. 

• Except where unavoidable, do not allow any excavation 

or fill within the dripline of trees to be saved. See park 

resources staff policies and detailed vegetation management plans. 

• Avoid the creation of subsurface barrier interfaces to 

ground water migration and recharge by layering 

different soil types (e.g., the placement of side slope 

colluvial soils on top of river valley alluvial soil). 

• To minimize or avoid erosion and slope failure, design 

for on-site redistribution of runoff waters from impervious surfaces like paved roads, roofs, etc. 

• Emulate existing surrounding landforms and natural 

drainage patterns. Avoid non-natural and artificial 

looking landforms when grading. 

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• Keep all grading back from the bank tops of streams 

and drainages that are tributaries to the Merced River. 

The distance will vary depending on site conditions, 

but for any drainageway that supports riparian vegetation or has the potential to do so, limit grading operations as directed by authorized National Park Service 

personnel. All grading operations within the Merced 

Wild and Scenic River Management Zones and near 

tributary drainages must comply with flood zone 

restrictions, park resources staff policies, and more 

detailed studies which may dictate differing setbacks. 

Any actions within the bed and banks of the Merced 

River are subject to a Section 7 determination according 

to the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 

Management Plan. 

• In order to enhance groundwater recharge where snow 

removal is not required and where deemed feasible based 

on soil characteristics and slope gradient, use porous 

paving material such as compacted decomposed granite, 

for pathways, service roads, multipurpose trails, etc. 

• In accordance with Regional Water Quality Control 

Board and National Park Service standards and practices, storm water and snow melt runoff from parking 

areas should be channeled through mechanical or 

biological filters or filtering media before being allowed 

to run into drainages, creeks, or the river. 

Log barrier at Crane Flat (2004) GH 

BARRIERS, FENCES + BENCHES 

For purposes of discussion in this section, barriers are 

defined as any system of clustered boulders, wood post 

and cable rope fencing, etc. designed to control or direct 

the movement of people and protect natural features 

(such as planting) without blocking or obscuring views 

from one side of the barrier to the other. Screening, on 

the other hand, is defined as more or less solid fencing 

intended for privacy or to hide outdoor materials or 

areas from view. For yard fencing, trash screening, 

control of pets, etc., the National Park Service provides 

prescriptive guidelines for residential spaces. 

Barriers are sometimes needed to keep visitors on 

designated pedestrian pathways and trails, as well as out 

of sensitive plant communities and habitats. Trampling 

of vegetation, compaction of soil, and bank erosion are 

common in Yosemite Valley, a result of the great number 

of visitors who come to the park each year. The barriers 

currently used throughout the Valley are inconsistent 

in design character. Boulder- or cobble-reinforced 

grade changes and a reduction in the number of fence 

types, both temporary and permanent will help unify 

the landscape. 

Screen fencing is required for both private dwellings 

and visitor lodging. Park employees living in proximity 

to areas of visitation need to screen their outdoor storage 

areas from view. In addition, visitors staying in groundlevel lodging units require screens for privacy and to 

conceal personal clutter. The result is a significant 

amount of screen fencing at Yosemite Lodge, Tecoya 

housing, and parts of Yosemite Village. 

Benches, as they are seen in public spaces today, 

were scarce in the late 19th and 20th century photographs 

of Yosemite Valley. People either sat on indoor chairs 

that were brought outside, fallen logs, or upended log 

segments. Rustic one- and two-sided log benches were 

shaped by young men in the Civilian Conservation Corps 

in the 1930s. These bench forms still exist in some locations and provide a landscape character link to the past. 

They represent a heavy rustic scale and often appear 

solidly anchored among towering trees and massive 

79 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

boulders. Logs may be an impermanent material, but the 

importance of their rustic character to Yosemite Valley 

outweighs this disadvantage.

11 

GUIDELINES 

Barriers 

• Planting areas, on flat or sloping terrain, may be 

protected with raised grades (minimum 12 inches) 

reinforced with nested and partially submerged native 

cobbles and boulders. Flat topped boulders 16 inches 

to 20 inches high can also serve as seating. 

• Where protection from trampling is needed in public 

areas and path-edge grade changes with boulders are 

not appropriate, three treatments are acceptable: 

Zigzag Fence, Pierced Post Fence, Cedar Post and 

Rope, or Cable Barricade. These emphasize hand crafted 

simplicity and the use of park-sourced materials. Use 

cedar wood components wherever possible, since vegetation management policies call for the selective removal 

of cedar trees in the foreseeable future. 

• Where barriers are needed temporarily, a system that 

can be dismantled and relocated, such as the staggered 

zigzag type, should be used. 

Zigzag Fence 

Because it requires no posts, this design is highly 

adaptable to the flat Valley floor conditions. Being 

made up of split timbers, it also imparts a rustic rural 

hand-crafted character. Three approximately 12 footlong, split cedar rails are stacked and secured at the 

joints by a reinforcing bar and laid out in a zigzag 

pattern for stability. The design should be used consistently in oak woodlands, other forest understory areas, 

riparian zones, and archaeological sites, but may be 

adaptable to some sloping areas. 

Pierced Post Fence (sometimes called Hetch Hetchy) 

This design uses 6" x 8" split and rough-squared cedar 

posts at normal and short heights spaced at approximately eight-foot centers. The post is secured in compacted back-filled holes. The rail openings in the posts 

and the 8 to 10 foot-long split cedar rails imply a 

degree of woodworking and installation skills. It may 

therefore be appropriate for developed areas as well as 

timbered areas and steep slopes. The short version 

would be appropriate at the edges of newly planted 

or plant restoration areas and near meadows. 

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Zigzag fence Pierced post fence 
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U NIFYING E LEMENTS + G UIDELINES 

Cedar Post + Rope or Cable Barricade 

Four foot long split cedar posts, spaced approximately 

10 feet apart are buried 12 inches or more in compacted 

backfilled post holes. A 3⁄4" diameter hole near the top 

carries a semi-taut 1⁄2" diameter galvanized cable or 

hemp rope. This design should be used only temporarily 

where a barrier is needed such as to protect replanted or 

recovering vegetation. It should be removed when vegetation has grown sufficiently to act as a barrier. Do not 

use faux materials. 

GUIDELINES 

Screen Fences 

• Site buildings with respect to one another, to existing 

vegetation, and to visibility from roads and trails so as 

to minimize or obviate the need for gates, screens, and 

fences wherever possible. 

• Screen fencing should be designed, located, and treated 

so as to blend as thoroughly as possible into the 

natural landscape. 

• Screen fencing should not appear as ad-hoc additions 

to buildings. Where fencing is required, it should be 

considered as a component of the design of the building. 

Cedar post & rope barricade 

Civilian Conservation Corps building benches (c. 1930) YRL 

In some cases it may be appropriate to repeat building 

materials on the screen structure. 

• Fence and screen layout should terminate in a right 

angle return of an appropriate length. 

• TV dishes should be as hidden as possible from public 

view. They should be kept lower than the top of a 

fence, or placed with a building in the near background. 

The goal is to blend and avoid an industrial look. Refer 

also to National Park Service prescriptive guidelines 

for residential areas. 

Benches 

• Bench design is an important element of rustic style in 

Yosemite Valley. Benches should be constructed from 

park sourced timber, when possible, and Sierra granite. 

• Benches in shuttle bus stops should be constructed 

from heavy, rough-milled lumber set on granite pads. 

These benches should have backs and may require 

armrests per accessibility requirements. Groups of 

several benches should be arranged in clusters where 

site conditions allow. 

• In unsheltered settings benches can be formed from 

unpeeled logs. Although some logs will lose their bark 

over time, the bark contributes a strong Rustic character. Three types of log benches are recommended: 

a 3⁄4 round with a seat and back carved out, set on a 

granite base; a half round with no back set on a granite 

base; and a complete round log, partially buried with 

no base. Include weep holes to drain water and prolong 

the life of the bench. 

• Individual seats can be made from bucked up logs, at 

least 24" in diameter, about 18" tall, set vertically. 

81 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Night sky in Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point (2003) NPS-DD 

LIGHTING 

Preserving the night darkness is crucial to the overall 

pursuit of preserving nature and its enjoyment in the 

park. The nocturnal environment is an important part of 

the visitor’s park experience. The natural darkness and 

quiet transform the park into a dramatic night scene, 

even near the park’s most developed areas. However, over 

the last half of the 20th century, outdoor electric illumination has become widespread, growing rapidly as society 

makes ever-increasing use of the night for activities. At 

the park, organized night activities as well as the pressing 

concerns of safety and security have caused a proliferation 

of electric lighting and a corresponding increase in the 

ambient light level. These guidelines are intended to 

prevent further light pollution in the park and to reverse 

the process, without sacrificing essential lighting needed 

to ensure the safety of park visitors and staff. 

GUIDELINES 

• Employ electric lighting only where needed. In general, 

provide lighting only where normal night use, safety, 

security, and/or accessibility are essential, such as 

building entrances/exits, steps or changes in elevation 

between buildings and parking lots or major trails, and 

parking lots adjacent to night activity centers. Outdoor 

work areas, such as service or storage yards, should be 

carefully evaluated for the need for illumination. In 

general, do not illuminate drives, roads, or streets, 

except for bus stops or intersections where cross traffic 

involving pedestrians is a significant safety concern. 

Avoid landscape lighting and architectural lighting 

such as building floodlighting, except for extremely 

important night activity areas. Do not provide lighting 

for backcountry locations unless absolutely necessary. 

• Design lighting systems that produce an absolute 

minimum of intrusion on the night. Design to no 

greater than the absolute lowest standards. Use fully 

shielded lighting gear without exception. Avoid floodlights, lanterns, post top globes, and any other luminaire 

that emits light other than downward within a 60­

degree cone. As a general rule, designs should prevent 

viewing the lamp or a bright lens or reflector within 2 

mounting heights of the luminaire, and luminaires 

should not be mounted higher than 20 feet. Landscape 

lighting, when used, should be equipped with long 

“snoot” shields to prevent obtrusive light. Minimize 

light cast onto building walls, and light steps from 

directly above as much as possible. 

• Uniform illumination is not required except in very 

specific areas such as stairs or building entrances. 

The use of pools of light is strongly encouraged along 

paths if illuminated at all. 

• Design lighting systems to be attractive and consistent 

with the architecture, preferably innocuous. Use 

long-life, naturally-weathering materials or materials 

designed to minimize degradation, such as concrete 

bollards, non-ferrous metals like copper and brass, 

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U NIFYING E LEMENTS + G UIDELINES 

supports of Cor-Ten steel, and treated wooden poles. 

Avoid strongly designed luminaires and seek timelessness in style and mounting. 

• Locate lighting systems where they will suffer minimum damage. Avoid conventional “bollard” lights and 

similar systems easily damaged by humans and animals, 

especially cyclists. Consider snow and its removal in 

determining lighting designs and mounting heights. 

• Use the lowest possible wattage, energy efficient luminaire for each application. Employ compact fluorescent 

and low wattage HID lamps with a minimum of other 

sources. Lamps should be less than 100 watts, and as 

often as possible 50 or less. Where HID lamps are 

needed, 3,000K metal halide lamps are strongly 

recommended in public activity areas, but high 

pressure sodium may be used in utility and service 

areas. Compact fluorescent lamps should be used as 

much as possible, using low temperature ballasts and 

amalgam lamps to ensure winter operation. Color 

temperatures of all light sources (except HPS ) 

should be 2,700 – 3,000K. 

• Design interior lighting to prevent light from spilling 

outdoors. Use adaptation-compensating controls to 

reduce interior light levels at night, which minimizes 

exterior spill and permits lower exterior light levels. 

Aim lights away from windows and skylights. 

• Mounting luminaires and feeder lines on trees is 

not permitted. 

Lamp post in New Yosemite Village (1928) YRL 

83 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

develo p ed a reas 

SITING + BUILDING ORIENTATION 

Ideally, buildings in Yosemite Valley are sited to harmonize 

and blend with the landscape, placed in ways that respect 

major features, natural open spaces, drainages, trees, and 

boulders. In addition to visible features, buried archeological sites—often found at the edges of meadows— 

must be taken into consideration when siting buildings. 

Each major developed area in Yosemite Valley is 

organized around a central outdoor space with views of 

scenic features. Traditionally the important interior 

spaces of public buildings are also oriented toward views 

of these features. Smaller buildings, such as lodgings and 

residences, are found in informal groupings with generous 

open space around them, sited to capture views or winter 

sun exposure where possible. 

Each developed area has a unique site layout that 

influences its architectural character. Curry Village is 

laid out in a narrow band along the base of a talus slope. 

The visitor service buildings are organized around a 

central public space, flanked by tents and cabins carefully 

integrated with the slopes, boulders, and trees. Yosemite 

Lodge has a campus layout, with lodging buildings 

dispersed around the visitor service complex. Yosemite 

Village began as a group of buildings around a rectangular open space. The open space was later extended into 

a linear pedestrian precinct to incorporate additional 

visitor services buildings. The Ahwahnee stands in 

splendid isolation from other developed areas in the Valley, 

set on the edge of a meadow against the backdrop of 

the Valley walls. 

A unique example of sensitivity to setting is found 

in John Muir’s “small box-like home” or hang nest fastened 

beneath the gable of James Hutchings’ saw mill. He wrote, 

“The hole in the roof is to command a view of the glorious 

South [Half] Dome... There is a corresponding skylight 

on the side of the roof which commands a full view of the 

upper Yosemite Falls, and the window at the end has a 

view sweeping down the Valley among the pines and 

cedars and silver firs.” He recounted as well the “murmuring hush of the water beneath me,” and the window 

in the roof that allowed him to “look at the stars on 

calm nights” (Johnston 1971). 

The siting and orientation of buildings in developed 

areas can take advantage of both silence and the sounds 

of nature. The sounds of waterfalls or wildlife are key 

aspects of the visitor’s experience. In spring and early 

summer, waterfalls can be heard throughout the Valley, 

and can be enjoyed from a private balcony or a dining 

terrace. With increased visitation and its attendant traffic, 

human-made noise has disrupted natural silence and 

sounds. This distraction also occurs indoors, between 

guest rooms in lodging areas. 

Visual privacy depends on the relationships 

between indoor and outdoor spaces. Guests should have 

a degree of separation from people in the adjacent outdoor 

spaces, and passers-by should not feel that they intrude 

on guests enjoying the view from their rooms or balconies. 

GUIDELINES 

• Before building in an existing development, examine 

its spatial organization, identify the positive characteristics—for example the views from the plaza at 

Yosemite Village towards Yosemite Falls and Half Dome 

—and perpetuate the design principles that led to them. 

• Evaluate the natural, cultural, and archeological 

resources of the site. Site analysis should be based on 

an objective assessment of the site as well as technical 

data provided by park staff. Where appropriate, natural 

John Muir’s sketch of his hang nest at Hutchings’ Saw Mill (ca. 1871) from John Muir 

in Yosemite by Shirley Sargent 

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Rangers’ Club at the edge of Cook’s Meadow (2004) GH 

and cultural resources can be featured elements in 


site design. 


• Introduction of roads or structures into previously 

unbuilt areas should be based on an assessment of 

significant impact to existing vegetation and habitat. 

Refer to Natural Park Service forest management 

policies and requirements. 

• Overall site planning of building groups should recognize major views, solar orientation, and topography. 

Principal outdoor spaces in each developed area should 

orient to views and appropriate sun exposure. Buildings 

should be designed so that major public rooms, as well 

as guest lodgings, receive the benefit of important 

views. Refer to Scenic Views in Unifying Elements for 

more guidelines. 

• Site planning must take into account natural features. 

The integration of boulders and trees, for example, 

is a high priority in siting buildings. Grading should 

be minimized and natural drainages patterns should 

be maintained. 

• Site buildings to take advantage of natural sounds such 

as waterfalls, and minimize the adverse effects of humanmade noise. Isolation and shielding of sound generation 

sources should be given a high priority during the early 

stages of the design process. For example, consider 

the location of idling tour buses, service area trucks, 

ventilation, and mechanical equipment. 

• Buildings are not allowed in meadows. Buildings near 

meadows should be located near the edges to afford 

views of the meadows from the buildings. This must 

be done in accordance with various environmental factors and National Park Service policies on archeology 

and vegetation management, and the Merced Wild and 

Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. In some cases 

partial screening of buildings will be appropriate. 

• Provide an appropriate degree of visual and acoustical 

privacy for lodging rooms. Site design should provide 

separation between guests in lodgings and visitors in 

adjacent outdoor areas. 

85 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER 

The architectural character of the older developments 

in Yosemite Valley—such as Curry Village and Yosemite 

Village—established Rustic design in Yosemite Valley. 

Until about 1946, Rustic design was used to varying 

degrees in the Valley, depending on practical needs as well 

as site conditions. National Park Service Rustic buildings 

were designed to blend with their natural setting, using 

materials and colors found in the landscape. The early 

buildings and structures at Camp Curry, including the 

welcome sign, the Registration Building, Mother Curry 

Bungalow, and the Foster Curry Cabin, are distinguished 

by simple roof forms, wood shingle roofs, and unstripped 

logs. Many of the buildings in Yosemite Village make 

use of local materials found in the landscape and handcrafted construction techniques. These buildings were 

heavily influenced by the work of contemporary California 

architects such as Bernard Maybeck and the brothers 

Greene and Greene. The Ahwahnee combines Rustic 

design with contemporary technology. Its façades are 

composed of granite-clad piers that are joined by concrete 

infill walls stained and formed to simulate wood. Other 

rustic elements include low-slope hipped roofs, exposed 

concrete roof framing elements designed to simulate wood 

rafters, form board concrete simulating wood siding, wood 

windows arranged in regular patterns, and natural colors. 

Later architecture in Yosemite Valley departed 

dramatically from the Rustic tradition. The buildings 

at Yosemite Lodge, completed in 1956, were built in 

the Mission 66 style. The registration building, lounge, 

cafeteria, restaurant, and souvenir shop buildings are 

distinguished by light steel-frame construction and 

large expanses of glass. Their goal was sturdy, low-maintenance, permanent structures that could serve the 

modern-day needs of the traveling public on a large 

scale (McClelland 1998). 

Mother Curry Bungalow 

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The Ahwahnee with backdrop of cliff to north (2004) GH 

GUIDELINES 

• Design buildings to blend in with their natural setting. 

Employ the colors, texture, and materials found in the 

surrounding landscape. For example, the scale of the 

uncoursed rubble masonry of The Ahwahnee echoes 

its natural setting. 

• Designers should seek inspiration from the rich examples 

of Rustic design that exist in the park, and develop 

contemporary expressions employing Rustic principles. 

Use of current building technology and materials will 

contribute to architectural character, but should be 

used with appropriateness and restraint. 

• Designers should analyze the architectural character 

of a developed area and identify the unique response 

to the natural setting that guided the original development. When building in developed areas, continue the 

essence of the spatial order, massing, and character 

using compatible forms, materials, and color. 

• Natural weathering of wood is a basic characteristic 

of Rustic architecture. Avoid imitation of natural 

materials, such as concrete made to look like stone, or 

plastic wood with simulated grain. If plastic lumber 

is used, it must be finished in such a way that allows 

weathering over time. Form board concrete has historical precedent in Yosemite Valley and is an appropriate 

treatment. Refer to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards 

for the Treatment of Historic Properties for more guidelines. 

BUILDING SHAPE + MASSING 

Simple building forms are found throughout Yosemite 

Valley. These buildings are designed to blend with their 

natural surroundings, serving as a backdrops for park 

activities. The historic approach to shape and massing 

for large buildings has been to limit the size of each 

building and accommodate program requirements in 

series of linked structures. Simple rectangular shapes 

and rustic details help to further reduce the scale of 

large buildings. 

In general, within the developed areas, buildings 

have been designed with consistent shape and massing. 

Features vary within a restrained vocabulary of rustic 

forms. An example of this can be found in the three 

early buildings in the Yosemite Village administrative 

center—the National Park Service Administration 

Building, the Museum, and the post office. 

GUIDELINES 

• Building massing should be compatible with the setting, 

such as the background of cliffs and monumental forms 

of the Valley. 

• Plan shapes should be rectangular with variations from 

the basic shape generated by the architectural program. 

• Orientation of rooms or major spaces that depart 

from the overall organization of the plan give emphasis 

to the importance of the natural world beyond. For 

example, the axis of the dining room at The Ahwahnee 

was adjusted from the building’s overall plan arrangement in order to take advantage of views of Upper 

Yosemite Fall. 

• The size of a building should not overwhelm its 

immediate natural setting. It should reflect a balance 

between the functional requirements of the building 

and the capacity of the site. Where a program calls for 

an excessively large floor area, it should be broken 

down into logical elements that fit the site. 

87 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

• Use of building elements that project or surround 

portions of a building such as verandahs, porches, 

and raised terraces serve to break down the mass of 

a large building. 

• The height of new buildings should not be radically 

different from adjacent, existing structures. National 

Park Service review of building height is required. 

TOP + BOTTOM Cascades cabins, 2003 (no longer extant) 

ROOF FORM + MATERIALS 

While a wide range of roof forms are found throughout 

Yosemite Valley, each developed area is unified by a predominant roof form, material, and detailing. The most 

common roof is a simple gable, usually of medium pitch, 

with moderate overhangs. Steeper roof pitches are sometimes combined with dormers. Less common are hipped 

roofs, found at The Ahwahnee and Curry Village, and 

jerkinhead roofs, formerly found at Yosemite Lodge and 

other areas. 

Exposed roof sheathing and framing is seen 

consistently throughout the Valley. Rough-sawn framing 

members and decking weather well and contribute to a 

sense of unity throughout developed areas. The use of 

overscaled, wood framing elements is a design element 

that was used during the Rustic design era. 

Historically, roofs in the Valley were clad with 

wood shingles or shakes with the exception of The 

Ahwahnee, which has a slate roof. On historic buildings 

with wood shingle roofs, wood replacement shingles are 

used. Asphalt shingles are commonly used to satisfy fire 

protection requirements of a Class A fire resistant roof. 

Metal roofing has little precedent in Yosemite 

Valley and is not an appropriate replacement material for 

historic buildings. It has been used to a limited extent 

in Yosemite Village at the maintenance buildings and 

the dorms at Lower Tecoya. Metal roofs are found in the 

remote higher elevations, where heavy snowfall and fire 

are important issues. Metal is less appropriate in Valley 

locations because of its reflectivity when viewed from 

a distance, especially from the surrounding cliffs. 

Weathering metal and durable coatings can address this 

concern for excess reflectivity. Careful site review of 

these issues is required. 

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TOP LEFT Mountain Shop clerestory at Curry Village BOTTOM LEFT Museum,Yosemite Village (2004) GH RIGHT Small building with jerkinhead roof (2004) GH 

GUIDELINES 

• New roofs should be compatible with the character 

of existing structures. Gable and shed roof forms of 

medium pitch are recommended. Hipped roofs are only 

appropriate in areas where they are already in use. 

• The roof form should consist of a simple geometry. 

Valleys and intersections should be kept to a minimum. 

Roof accessories and structures such as chimneys and 

mechanical equipment should be combined where 

possible and placed so as not to restrict or block snow 

movement. Recommended details include exposed 

framing elements with rough-sawn texture. Exposed 

structure that is oversized establishes a rustic character. 

• In buildings with steeper roofs, the use of dormers can 

provide usable interior space without increasing the 

overall height of the building. 

• The dormer form, either gable or shed, can be used 

to break down the scale of a large roof. However, gable 

and shed dormers have different snow shedding characteristics: the shed dormer allows snow to flow evenly 

past it right down the roof, while gable dormers divert 

snow off to the sides. In order to facilitate snow shedding, gable dormers must be spaced farther apart than 

shed dormers. 

• Clerestory windows and skylights are useful for letting 

daylight penetrate interior spaces. Their location and 

detailing should recognize the hazards of snow and 

ice accumulation and resulting potential for moisture 

penetration. 

• When replacing shingles on historic structures, use 

shingles of the same material (wood or slate) existing 

on the building. 

89 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Superintendent’s House (Residence1),Yosemite Village (1942) YRL-RA 

• Due to fire concerns, asphalt shingles are an appropriate 

roof material for new buildings. However, use asphalt 

shingles that are complementary to those on existing 

(and in many cases historic) buildings in terms of 

color, texture, and thickness of the edge. 

• Metal roofing has little precedent in the Valley, and 

would be inconsistent with the character and scale of 

most developed areas. It can produce undesirable reflections when viewed from above. If circumstances require 

a metal roof, it should be a standing seam roof treated 

with a non-reflective coating in an approved color. 

• Primary entrances to buildings must be protected 

from rain and snow. This issue must be addressed 

during the earliest studies of roof design. 

• Ensure that roofs covering sidewalks do not deposit 

water onto walking surfaces. In winter conditions, 

this water can freeze, causing dangerous conditions 

for pedestrians. 

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Exterior wall of Administration 

Building, Yosemite Village (2004) GH 

BUILDING EXTERIOR 

The use of natural weathering materials, such as wood 

and stone, on a building exterior establishes a visual 

connection between buildings and the natural setting. 

The major components of a building’s exterior are the 

walls, base, windows, entrances, and porches. 

Walls 

Wood used for wall siding, columns (either logs or sawn 

timbers), and exposed roof framing is consistent throughout the Valley. A variety of wood wall siding materials is 

used in the Valley, including sugar pine shakes, redwood 

and cedar shingles, vertical board and batten, and horizontal board patterns. Siding patterns often change 

between the first and second floors. Boards are typically 

rough sawn. Since the 1920s and 1930s, different protective finishes were used for wood siding, including clear 

oil, clear stains, and paint. While these finishes continue 

to be used today, pigmented coatings have become the 

most reliable long-term protection. 

Granite masonry has often been used as foundation 

cladding or as a rusticated lower story wall. At The 

Ahwahnee, stone was used extensively to clad the massive 

piers that rise the full height of the building. These 

applications of native granite create a strong link to the 

cliffs and boulders that are its immediate background. 

Base 

The protected base or weathering base is an important 

unifying element for buildings in Yosemite Valley. It is not 

only a character-defining feature, but also a functional 

element that extends the life of the lower wall cladding. 

A base of natural weathered rock similar to that found 

in the adjacent landscape visually anchors the building 

to the ground and protects the vulnerable upper walls 

from accumulated snow and wind-driven rain splash. 

The protected base has historical precedent in 

Yosemite Village and Curry Village. A contemporary 

treatment has been used at Yosemite Lodge. A protected 

base visually anchors buildings to the ground and separates 

wood walls from accumulated snow and rain splash. 

In Yosemite Village, stone masonry clads the entire 

ground floor of the Museum, the post office, and the 

Administration Building. This treatment helps to visually 

lower the overall height of the buildings. Concrete 

formed by rough sawn boards results in a strong textured 

surface. This has been used not only at The Ahwahnee 

but also at the extension of the Mountain Room 

Restaurant at Yosemite Lodge. 

Windows, Entrances + Porches 

Window size and design will vary due to functional and 

architectural requirements. Lodging and recreational 

buildings require more modestly scaled windows than 

public buildings. Window scale and proportion should 

be more vertical than horizontal. Divided lights are not 

required and are discouraged. 

Detail of Administration Building,Yosemite Village 

91 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Detail of Medical Clinic,Yosemite Village (2004) GH Historic Residence,Yosemite Village 

On major public buildings, entrances are often 

identified as important elements of the façade through 

the use of porches and verandahs. These elements give 

additional form to the façade, and indicate to visitors the 

location of the entrances, and afford visitors protection 

from the weather. Smaller buildings frequently incorporate modest porches or shed roofs over entrance doors. 

The use of color to blend structures with their 

natural setting is an important principle. Historically, 

National Park Service buildings have been stained or 

painted a standard brown color, and their roofs have had 

unpainted wood shingles. 

GUIDELINES 

• Façade design should strive for compatibility with 

adjacent buildings as well as the natural setting. 

• Buildings should have a protected base made from 

either granite or board-formed concrete, about 20 

inches above grade. 

• Granite used on new buildings should have the same 

composition, color, and texture as the granite in 

Yosemite Valley. As it is not permitted to gather granite 

from within the park, Sierra granite must come from 

quarries outside the park. However, small quantities of 

granite may be available as a result of other construction or maintenance projects within the park. When 

possible, use weathered granite. 

• Many of the historical façade patterns that have been 

used in the Valley, including resawn boards, shingles 

or shakes, are appropriate for new buildings. Wood 

with resawn texture creates a rustic surface that blends 

checks and surface blemishes. The texture can vary 

from rough-sawn size found in the beginning stages of 

the milling process to a fine-sawn texture. An appropriate texture is recommended for wood wall cladding. 

• Entrances to buildings should be clearly defined, easily 

accessible and should offer protection from the weather. 

An entrance located in a porch allows a more gracious 

transition to the outdoors. 

• Continue the careful selection of color as a way to 

make buildings blend with and recede into the natural 

setting. In some developed areas, color has been used to 

establish an identity for each site. While more variety 

of color can be used, restraint should be exercised to 

achieve harmony with the natural setting. 

10 Palustrine refers to marsh or wetland. 

11 While benches other than logs were uncommon at the turn of the century, two 

granite benches did exist. Clark’s Bench was carved of granite in 1911 and set 

beside Northside Drive with a view of Yosemite Falls. A granite bench was built 

for the garden behind the Museum in 1932 and moved to the cemetery in 1936 

(NPS 2003). 

92 NPS 

Y OSEMITE VILLAGE 

INTRODUCTION 95


SETTING 98


Natural Systems + Features 98


Scenic Views 98


Vegetation 99


LANDSC APE USES + STRUCTURES 100


Land Use + Spatial Organization 100


Circulation 101


DEVELOPED AREAS 102


Central Village Administrative Area 103


Residential Areas 109


Maintenance, Service + Storage Areas 115


OVERLEAF Sentinel Rock and Rangers’ Club after snowstorm (1935) YRL-RA 
� 

D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

Y OSEMITE VILLAGE 

the yosemite village historic district, through both sites and structures, represents 

almost the entire range of yosemite history since 1855, including early homesteading, 

john muir’s early residence in the park, development of the national park, the army’s 

role in park administration, and the evolution of early national park service administration and interpretation of the resource of yosemite. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 

• NOMINATION FORM 

THE PRESENT-DAY Yosemite Village originated in the 1920s as a replacement for the outdated, 19th century Old Village. Increasing numbers of 

visitors put pressure on the National Park Service to improve and develop 

new facilities, such as museums, observation stations, checking stations, 

comfort stations, and administration buildings. The old Yosemite Village, 

prone to flooding, was moved away from the river and out of the open 

meadows. Its new site on the sunny north side of the Valley, under the 

trees and against the valley walls, was less conspicuous from popular viewpoints above the valley. 

The plan for the new Yosemite Village was devised by Myron Hunt, 

Daniel Hull, and Thomas Vint, architects and landscape architects for the 

National Park Service. Drawing from the best of contemporary American 

and British town planning, three separate areas were created for administrative, residential, and maintenance uses. The plan called for the careful 

selection of building sites and an adherence to an architectural theme that 

harmonized construction with the natural environment. 

Buildings for the park’s administration and concessioner services 

were to be placed around a central plaza that provided parking. By 1924, 

with the construction of a new administration building, the new village 

center was beginning to take shape. Myron Hunt’s administration building 

was a modest Craftsman structure with a lower story and concrete foundation faced with boulders, an upper story of shingled walls, and a broad 

95 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Museum with Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Village (1938) YRL 

sloping roof supported on exposed log purlins. This 

building established the particular mode of harmonious 

Rustic design to which later buildings in the Village 

would conform. The construction of a post office and 

museum followed within two years. The three government 

buildings and the Rangers’ Club of 1921 created the 

nucleus for the new civic center. 

A separate residential subdivision was laid out 

adjacent to the civic area, with curvilinear streets and 

Arts & Crafts-style bungalows. A new maintenance area 

was also planned to the north of the central plaza. Each 

area of the Village was well separated by vegetation, 

topography, and design, to keep each land-use zone independent of the others (NPS 2004d). 

By 1925, Yosemite National Park had more visitors 

and automobiles than any other park. To accommodate 

the greater visitation, Yosemite Village continued to 

grow. Later, during the Mission 66 period, the Village 

gained a new visitor center, store, restaurant, and other 

facilities. A few years later, the civic plaza was converted 

to a pedestrian precinct and cars were excluded from the 

center of the Village. 

96 NPS 
Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

Historic residences, Yosemite Village (2004) GH 

3
 2
 4 

5 C 

1 D 

17 F 

16 

24 7 18 6


A 20
 13 19 

B 15 25 23 E 

8 

14 

9 22 

I 12 

21 

H 10 

11 

G 

A Historic District Residential Area 1 Historic Residences, Garages, 13 Area converted to Pedestrian Mall 

B Visitor Services and Administrative Core and Woodsheds 14 Rangers’ Club 

C Maintenance, Service, and Storage 2 Utility Buildings — Barns, Sheds, Shops 15 Park Headquarters/Administrative Building 

D Upper Tecoya 3 Utility Building #527 (Fort Yosemite) 16 Pioneer Cemetery 

E Middle Tecoya 4 Concessioner Warehouse 17 Museum Garden 

F Medical Center 5 Upper Tecoya Residences 18 Museum 

G Lower Tecoya 6 Visitor Center 19 Ansel Adams Gallery 

H Village Store and Garage 7 Yosemite Medical Clinic 20 Post Office 

I Visitor Arrival/Meadow 8 Cottages and Garages in Tecoya 21 Northside Drive 

9 Tecoya Dormitories 22 Ahwahnee Meadow 

10 Ahwahnee Row Houses and Garages 23 Degnan-Donohue Restaurant 

11 Concessioner’s General Offices 24 Elementary School 

12 Village Store 25 Village Drive 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

s etting 

NATURAL SY STEMS + FEATURES 

Yosemite Village is found on the warm, north side of 

Yosemite Valley, at the base of a gentle alluvial fan formed 

over the millennia by debris from Indian Canyon and 

Lehamite Creek. A year-round creek flows from north to 

south across the Village and may be a source of wet soils 

and pavement subsidence just west of the Village Store. 

Along much of the reach through the Village the creek 

bed is obscured and unavailable as an interpretive element. 

Today, the village site is above the floodplain of the 

Merced River, though it is within the floodplain of 

Indian Creek. 

The other major natural system influencing and 

limiting development in the Village is the close proximity 

of the cliffs and talus slopes along the northern edge of 

the Village. This area continues to be subject to periodic 

rockfall which continues to influence land use and services. 

SCENIC VIEWS 

Yosemite Village is set in its present location to partly 

take advantage of the spectacular view of Upper Yosemite 

Fall. The main civic plaza of the Village is oriented toward 

the waterfall, and it is visible from many areas of the 

central village. There are also impressive views to such 

scenic features as Lost Arrow Spire, Indian Canyon, 

Sentinel Rock, and Royal Arches, some of which are now 

obscured by the growth of conifers. Historic views to 

Yosemite Falls remain, although the growth of vegetation within the plaza areas has reduced the number of 

vantage points and open views that existed historically. 

Key views from the Village include: 

• Views from the plaza area up to Yosemite Point, Upper 

Yosemite Fall, Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock 

• Views from the NPS residential area to Yosemite Falls 

and Yosemite Point 

NPS 

• Views from Lower Tecoya across Ahwahnee Meadow 

to North Dome, Half Dome, and Glacier Point 

(McClelland 1998) 

GUIDELINES 

• Preserve and maintain the documented historic views 

from the public and residential areas of Yosemite 

Village through vegetation management and responsive 

siting of new structures. 

• When siting new or expanded buildings, pathways, 

plazas, and related landscape features, orient to historic 

and potential scenic views. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on views. 

Post office and Upper Yosemite Fall, Yosemite Village (2004) GH 

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Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

Canyon live oak 

VEGETATION 

The original vegetation in the Yosemite Village area was 

mostly oak woodland, interspersed with stands of mixed 

conifers, primarily ponderosa pines and incense-cedars. 

A primary goal in the original design and development 

of the Village was to use the site’s natural vegetation to 

screen structures and delineate public spaces. 

New planting between 1916 and World War II 

emphasized the use of native vegetation (collected and 

transplanted from nearby areas) arranged in artistic 

compositions (NPS 2004). Specimen trees such as sequoias 

were planted and identified near the Museum and the 

Rangers’ Club for the benefit of visitors. The goal was to 

mirror natural plant communities by massing plants in 

groupings commonly found in nature. This approach to 

planting design became known as landscape naturalization and was employed in many other national parks 

during this period. By 1930 it included a specific proscription of non-native plants, for both scientific and 

aesthetic reasons. Foundation plantings around public 

buildings were designed to enhance the rustic façades, 

rather than obscure them behind a wall of vegetation. 

In the residential area, vegetation was used somewhat differently. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. recommended 

siting structures under the canopy of black oaks to 

screen the visual impacts of the development when 

viewed from Glacier Point and other elevated points. 

Houses were well set back on main streets, with significant numbers of black oaks dispersed over the lawn areas. 

This lent an aesthetic unity and overall character to the 

area. Vegetation, both natural and planted, was also used 

to emphasize the divisions between different zones within 

the Village, and to screen the utility areas from public 

view. Today, the condition of many individual oak trees 

in the residential area has been compromised by excess 

water, a result of maintaining lawns under trees that are 

accustomed to dry summers (NPS 2004). 

Management of vegetation to preserve views from 

the Village was most likely an important concern in the 

early years, since the views from the plaza were influential 

in the selection of the Village site. Today however, much 

Oak trees in Yosemite Village Historic District residential area (2004) TP 

of the formerly open plaza has been revegetated. As 

these later plantings mature, they sometimes obscure 

historic views from the civic plaza area. Vegetation also 

obscures the early Rustic buildings on the plaza, reducing 

their ability to define the plaza and imbue it with the 

presence of the civic administration of the park. As in 

other parts of the Valley, pine and cedar are slowly 

crowding out stands of California black oak. Although 

some vegetation from the historic period survives in the 

Village (specifically the black oaks and some foundation 

plantings), much of the existing vegetation post-dates 

the period of historical significance (NPS 2004). 

GUIDELINES 

• Analyze vegetation to distinguish plantings from the 

historic period from those post-dating the period of 

significance. Identify health and hazard conditions. 

The results should be used in site planning and 

vegetation management efforts such as clearing and 

trimming to preserve significant views, as directed 

by the park resources staff. 

• Selectively clear conifers like incense-cedars encroaching 

around buildings. This would provide more light to 

the interiors of some buildings and would open up 

views to the outside. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on vegetation. 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Oak Lane in Yosemite Village Historic District residential area (2004) RF 

landscape uses /structures 

LAND USE + SPATIAL ORGANIZATION 

The plan of Yosemite Village was based on segregating 

land-use areas into administrative, residential, and 

maintenance zones. These zones were arranged to be 

conveniently near one another but discreetly defined and 

separated by circulation patterns, topography, vegetation, and cluster siting. Spatial organization within the 

Village was largely a response to existing topography 

and vegetation. 

The central administrative zone of Yosemite 

Village has always accommodated visitor uses of many 

types. Although there are no overnight accommodations 

in the Village, there are several restaurants, shops, the 

main park visitor center, photography studios, the park 

museum, post office, and the park administration building. 

Central to the design of this area is the open civic plaza, 

defined by the façades of public buildings and reinforced 

by foundation plantings, as well as natural topography 

and vegetation (NPS 2004d). The Village plaza created 

a sense of arrival and a sense of place for the entire 

Yosemite Village. By design, the plaza was a civic zone 

in which the public administration of the park was symbolically expressed through the architectural façades of 

important government buildings. These included the 

Administration Building, the Museum, and the post 

office, all important public service buildings. The plaza 

was used during the early years as the parking area for 

the Village center. 

National Park Service and the concessioner utility 

areas each have residential zones associated with them, 

including Upper, Middle, and Lower Tecoya and the 

Historic District residential area. The residential areas 

are separated from the utility yards and the civic plaza, 

remaining conveniently within walking distance of both. 

While the open character of the plaza encourages views 

out towards landscape features, the residential areas 

feature curvilinear, tree-lined streets that encourage 

inward views. These more private, intimate spaces 

enhance the residential character of these zones. 

The National Park Service maintenance area to the 

north of the civic plaza is located up into the rockfall 

zone at the base of the talus slope, at the north edge of 

the Village. The concessioner utility area to the east of 

the civic plaza was set apart from the central civic zone. 

This area has since become the main point of automobile 

arrival into the Village, dominated by a large parking lot 

east of the Village Store that is visible from Glacier 

Point. This significantly alters the historic design and 

intent of the Village by routing visitors to a utility area 

that was not meant to be a primary public space. 

In terms of broad patterns and relationships, the 

overall spatial organization of the Village remains true 

to the original design. The compactness of the overall 

100 NPS 
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Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

plan allows the residential, public, and utility zones to 

be separate, but conveniently within walking distance. 

The originally designated land use areas remain the same. 

Conversion of the central civic plaza from a parking lot 

to a broad promenade and the modifications to the visitor 

arrival sequence are the most significant changes to the 

original concept. 

The Yosemite Valley Plan calls for removal of the 

Village Store, the Art Activity Center, the Concessioner’s 

general offices, and the garage. In their place will be a 

new visitor information and orientation facility, consisting 

of visitor service facilities, an information facility, and 

transit center. Commercial and regional transit bus 

stops would be a short walking distance east of the complex. This will be the place where day-use visitors will 

park in Yosemite Valley, and it will provide them with an 

introduction to the whole park. They will be encouraged 

to leave their private vehicles in a large day-use parking 

area (now at Camp 6), and take various forms of public 

transportation to destinations throughout the Valley. 

GUIDELINES 

• Preserve the original organization of land use zones. 

• Recognize and reinforce the unique spatial organization 

in each zone or sub-area. 

• Identify, define, and reinforce the edges of the original 

civic plaza so that it is maintained as an active and 

vital historic element. 

• Redefine and extend the southern and eastern parts 

of the existing plaza to function as the major arrival 

space for visitors to the Valley. 

• Provide for logical and easy wayfinding along paths 

enhanced with native plants and occasional rest and 

viewpoints leading from parking areas to the expanded 

Village center. 

• Appropriately furnish outdoor places for visitors to 

gather and view the surrounding Valley. 

• Locate and design new buildings to create a sense of 

arrival for visitors. 

CIRCULATION 

Circulation within Yosemite Village is characterized by a 

hierarchy of street and path types. Village Drive was a 

wide, generous road that historically gave onto the open, 

wide space of the civic plaza. Today a road separates the 

plaza area from the cemetery and residential subdivision 

to the west. This road leads directly to the NPS maintenance area, offering direct access for service vehicles, 

without passing through the public or residential areas 

of the village. 

The approach to Yosemite Village was originally 

from the west, on what is now Village Drive. Arriving at 

the plaza area, visitors were presented with the façade of 

the Museum, flanked by the Administration Building to 

the left. Looking up, Yosemite Point and Upper Yosemite 

Fall were looming directly above. 

Within the gently sloping plaza area, pedestrian 

zones transition from relatively narrow walkways to broad 

irregularly-shaped asphalt areas that obscure a clear 

circulation hierarchy. The area has retained the feel of a 

roadway for vehicles rather than a pedestrian precinct. 

In the National Park Service historic residential 

area, narrow, curbless streets typically follow a curvilinear 

grid that generally aligns along the topography. The 

fronts of houses face the streets, while the backs and 

garages face on to service alleys, which are narrower in 

width and are often cul-de-sacs. Some houses are sited 

on short cul-de-sacs, branching off main streets. 

Roadway in Yosemite Village Historic District residential area (2004) GH 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Historic residences,Yosemite 

Village (2004) GH 

In the Lower Tecoya area, the concessioners’ 

Ahwahnee Row houses face directly onto Ahwahnee 

Meadow. Between the houses and the meadow is a trail, 

formerly a narrow street. The houses have a wide alley 

behind them, which also services a group of larger, 

dormitory style residences to the west. Some of these 

houses are screened by dogwoods and shrubs. 

In the National Park Service maintenance area, and 

to a degree in the concessioner utility area, the arrangement of larger buildings creates rectangular yards and 

broad, straight streets with no sidewalks. This pattern 

is essentially a formalization of the utilitarian nature of 

early roads and circulation through these areas. 

Overall, there is a high degree of integrity related 

to circulation in Yosemite Village. The elaborate hierarchy 

of street types is still intact in the residential and utility 

areas. The change in the main entrance to the Village 

and the creation of the pedestrian plaza area are the 

greatest changes from the historic period (NPS 2004). 

GUIDELINES 

• Develop an arrival sequence for the transportation 

center with a clear circulation system and an appropriate 

landscape character. Elements including the entrance 

road, parking, walkways, paved open spaces (plazas or 

gathering areas), and public buildings should be linked 

naturally to the existing development. 

• The arrival sequence and layout of approach roads


should allow visitors to see the new visitor complex,


or an intermediate marker, from their cars, before


entering the day parking area.


• Reinforce the use of a clear hierarchy of street types,


including wide main drives, narrower residential


streets and alleys, and pedestrian paths. 


• Retain the character of roads in the residential areas, 

using minimal road striping and curbless edge treatments. Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on circulation. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for guidelines on parking. 

NPS 

develo p ed a reas 

For these guidelines, Yosemite Village will be discussed 

in terms of its three distinct usage zones: the Central 

Village Administrative Area, the Residential Areas, and 

the Maintenance, Service, and Storage Areas. This section 

provides guidelines for these groups of developed areas 

that share common architectural and landscape features. 

The Central Village Administrative Area incorporates NPS administration and visitor services buildings 

as well as commercial facilities for the public. It consists 

of the historic Village center, the Village Store, the 

concessioner garage facility, and the planned visitor 

information and orientation facility and parking area 

(formerly at Camp 6). 

The Residential Areas consist of the Upper, 

Middle, and Lower Tecoya areas, as well as the Historic 

District residential area. The Medical Clinic is discussed 

in the context of Upper and Middle Tecoya because it 

has relatively consistent geographical conditions. The 

Lower Tecoya area consists of distinctly different soil 

and forest conditions. 

The Maintenance, Service, and Storage Areas consist of the maintenance yard area north of the central 

plaza, and adjacent buildings. 

Visitors in civic plaza in Yosemite Village with the Ansel Adams Gallery on right (2004) RF 

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Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

CENTRAL VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE AREA 

Setting 

At the heart of the Central Village Administrative Area 

is the civic plaza, with its historic buildings and contemporary visitor facilities. These buildings are oriented 

along a pedestrian promenade that widens into gathering 

spaces at the entrances to buildings. Except for some 

graceful black oaks and tall conifers, the landscape of the 

area lacks a distinct character (Land and Community 

Associates 1994). 

The area just southeast of the civic plaza and 

extending over the Camp 6 area will become, per the 

Yosemite Valley Plan, the major transportation hub for the 

entire Valley. Early preliminary plans for the area include 

new visitor service and orientation buildings, a transit 

center, a large day-visitor parking area, and tour and 

Valley shuttle bus parking. Southside Drive will be 

realigned to lead visitors right into the main day-use 

parking lot. 

In the Camp 6 area, the topography is generally 

uniform, with consistent vegetation patterns reflecting 

area-wide soil and ground water conditions. The visitor 

information and service facilities to the northeast would 

be on the slightly higher gently sloping Indian Creek 

alluvial fan. 

Soil differences probably account for the prominence 

of large mature black oak toward the western end of 

this area. Upslope toward the Indian Creek depositional 

fan the oaks are smaller. Conifers are dominant as one 

approaches the area around the Degnan’s complex. 

Further to the east, toward The Ansel Adams Gallery 

and the Degnan’s complex, the base of the talus line (as 

designated by the Yosemite Valley Plan) angles from the 

northwest to the southeast. Remnants of a riparian 

vegetation corridor can be seen along Indian Creek. 

Ground and surface runoff could affect this area in 

terms of vegetation, flooding, and pollution, since the 

proposed large parking area will be upslope from the 

Merced River, and partially within the 100-year floodplain. A wet ground zone just west of the Village Store 

Civic plaza,Yosemite Village, looking towards Upper Yosemite Fall (2004) RF 

has caused pavement settlement, suggesting a zone of 

ground water migrating from the Indian Creek alluvial 

fan through Camp 6 toward the Merced River. Given the 

existing topography, soils, and vegetation, much of the 

southern portion of the area, under undeveloped conditions, probably provides a sponge function, absorbing 

flows in times of flooding. There is potential for flooding 

in parts of the Yosemite Village main parking area. Even 

in non-flood conditions, pollutants from the proposed 

day-use parking area could reach the nearby Merced 

River through runoff and snowmelt. 

GUIDELINES 

• The flood retarding function of alluvial soils in 

the area should be restored and/or protected to the 

greatest extent possible from being covered over by 

impervious paving. 

• Layout and design of the future arrival complex 

should take into account the possibility of periodic 

flooding especially north and south of existing 

Northside Drive, in the vicinity of the lower reaches 

of Indian Creek, the drainage swale west of the Village 

Store, and the Merced River flood plain. The layout 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Rangers’ Club,Yosemite Village 

should avoid placing structures in or covering over 

these two smaller drainages. Both should be restored 

hydrologically and in terms of riparian vegetation. 

• For the design of the new day-use parking area, where 

wet soil, high ground water or potential flooding areas 

exist, the roads and bays should be aligned roughly 

parallel to contour allowing for continuous unpaved 

“green” swales protecting existing vegetation (especially 

oak trees and riparian vegetation) and allowing for 

ground water recharge. Raised pedestrian boardwalks, 

incorporating wetland interpretive displays, could 

provide for pedestrian traffic in these unpaved swales. 

• For maintenance, structural stability, and vegetation 

management purposes, locate buildings and roads in 

the most stable and lowest maintenance areas. 

• Refer to Parking in Unifying Elements for more guidelines on parking. 

Siting + Building Orientation for the 

Central Village Administrative Area 

In the center of Yosemite Village, the 1920s-era public 

buildings—the Administration Building, the post office, 

the Rangers’ Club, and the Museum— form two sides of 

an open civic plaza, with generous open space between 

them. The Museum, the Visitor Center, The Ansel 

Adams Gallery, the Wilderness Center, and the post 

office define the north edge of the plaza, roughly parallel 

with the canyon walls. The Administration Building is 

oriented north-south, closing the west end of the plaza. 

Later buildings such as the Degnan’s complex and the 

Village Store are sited at the eastern end of the plaza. 

The original plaza continues as a promenade to the 

Village Store, functioning today as the central spine of 

the Village center. Canyon walls to the north form the 

backdrop for buildings on the plaza. The central open 

space captures expansive views of the north canyon 

walls and Upper Yosemite Fall. 

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Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

As called for in the Yosemite Valley Plan, it is anticipated that Yosemite Village will become the main arrival 

point for visitors to the Yosemite Valley. This will generate 

additional development at Yosemite Village, including 

a transportation center, a new visitor orientation and 

information center, and a substantial new parking area. 

Its significance as the point of arrival for most park 

visitors will have a major impact on the integrity of 

Yosemite Village. 

GUIDELINES 

• Planning and design of the new visitor complex should 

take into account significant elements of the historic 

civic plaza, such as views of Upper Yosemite Fall. The 

existing spatial organization should be extended. The 

edges of major outdoor spaces should be defined by 

buildings, major vegetation, and views. 

• New outdoor spaces should be inspired by the overall 

setting of the village and should be appropriate to the 

buildings they relate to. 

• Preserve and link the scale and spatial organization of 

the historic civic plaza area with new buildings that 

are compatible with the historic architectural elements. 

• Redefine the historic civic plaza bounded by the 

Administration Building, the Museum, the Visitor 

Center, and the Wilderness Center and relate it to 

the new development. This space should be used 

for non-commercial, social, educational, and 

interpretive activities. 

Entrance to Museum,Yosemite Village (2004) GH 

Architectural Character 

in the Central Village 

Administrative Area 

Yosemite Village is one of 

the largest and most significant collections of National 

Park Service Rustic style 

buildings in the National 

Park System. The basic 

principle of Rustic architecture—predominant in 

the national parks between 1916 and 1942—was that 

buildings should blend with the landscape. Structures 

should emphasize a horizontal aspect. Vegetation 

enhanced the natural appearance of the building and 

united it with the landscape. Oversized masonry and 

timbers were used to assure that the image of the 

building fit and matched its natural setting. 

Cornerstone of Museum,Yosemite Village 

(2004) GH 

The visual effects of natural materials and colors 

were fully exploited by these early Rustic buildings. The 

upper walls were clad in shingles stained dark brown with 

special coursing patterns. The rough granite boulders 

and river-run stones used on walls, foundations, chimneys, 

steps, and porches harmonized with the towering granite 

cliffs surrounding the Valley. They varied in size and were 

laid in a rubble bond, weathered side exposed, with a 

raked mortar joint that emphasized the natural size and 

shape of individual stones. The use of timber in various 

forms—thick logs, rough-milled lumber, shingles, and 

shakes—much of it stained dark brown—harmonized 

with the bark of ponderosa pines and other conifers of 

the Yosemite forests. From a distance, the effect is nearly 

one of camouflage. While it does not eliminate the intrusion of buildings on the natural scene, it measurably 

reduces the intrusion, which was the intent (NPS 2004). 

Examples of Rustic style buildings in Yosemite 

Village include the Rangers’ Club, the Administration 

Building, the Museum, the post office, National Park 

Service residential buildings, and a variety of utilitarian 

buildings and small offices (NPS 2004). The Rangers’ 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Club is a two-and-one-half story wood frame structure 

with granite rubble foundation. Exterior walls are mainly 

finished with shingles. The building was designated a 

National Historic Landmark in 1987. Although The Ansel 

Adams Gallery (formerly Best’s Studio) is not architecturally significant, it has an entrance porch with a large 

masonry chimney and seating overlooking the promenade. 

Other developments in the Village center depart from 

the historical precedent and make little contribution to 

the continuity of character in the central space. 

GUIDELINES 

• The early historic buildings are the formal elements of 

the administrative center. New additions to the complex 

will be more interactive and less formal for visitors. 

The architectural character of these new buildings 

should provide ease, function, and delight, and yet 

acknowledge the architectural character of the historic 

buildings located nearby on the civic plaza. 

• New development, in recognition of the historic context, should not replicate earlier buildings, but in its 

overall character endeavor to carry forward their spirit. 

New development should be compatible with buildings 

in the historic district in massing and overall character, 

yet be recognizable as contemporary additions to the 

Village complex. 

• Exterior finishes should include the palette of materials 

found on the adjacent buildings in the historic center. 

Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

architectural character. 

Building Shape + Massing for the 

Central Village Administrative Area 

The present-day Village center is a collection of buildings 

that are not consistent in shape and massing. However, 

the three original public buildings at the west end of the 

civic plaza have consistent shape and massing, and create 

a strong unified presence. The rectangular plan, two-story 

massing, horizontal emphasis, and robust scale of these 

buildings are essential features. The Museum has an 

interesting variation at the west end where the building’s 

mass steps down and is bolstered by a sculptural masonry 

chimney that flares out to the ground. This flaring motif 

was employed in early rustic buildings to make a strong 

connection to the ground. 

Non-historic buildings of a later period, such as 

the Visitor Center, the Degnan’s complex and the Village 

Store, have little in common with the early rustic 

buildings or with each other. 

GUIDELINES 

• The early historic buildings are a reference for future 

work at the central Village administrative area. 

• The height of new buildings should be limited to 

two and one half stories, compatible with the 

historic structures. 

• Use porches and secondary massing elements to reduce 

the apparent height of a building, and to make a 

strong connection to the ground. 

• When programs lead to large buildings that exceed 

and are not compatible with the reference historic 

structures, reorganize the program so that the building 

can be broken down into smaller components. 

• Connect structures by covered walkways that link 

functional relationships and emphasize horizontality. 

This will help subordinate the complex to its setting. 

• Refer to the Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

building shape and massing. 

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Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

TOP Western end of Museum,Yosemite Village BOTTOM Plaza elevation of post office,Yosemite Village 

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A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Clerestory of Yosemite Lodge gift shop, oriented toward Yosemite Falls (2004) GH 

Roof Form + Material for the Central 

Village Administrative Area 

The simple gable roof of the Administration Building, 

the Museum, and the post office is a key element of 

their character. The Administration Building has a large 

entry porch with a gable roof carried on stone piers. The 

steep roof pitch of the Rangers’ Club is a treatment 

that was not continued in later buildings, but was used 

earlier at the unique LeConte Memorial Lodge. Later, 

non-contributing buildings depart from the historic 

precedent, resulting in a lack of consistent roof forms, 

throughout the Village center. 

GUIDELINES 

• Use such historical precedents as the Administration 

Building, the Museum, and the post office as the 

reference for roof form. 

• Clerestories and skylights such as those used in the 

Mountain Shop at Curry Village and the Yosemite 

Lodge Store, are useful in allowing natural light to 

enter large interior volumes. They can also capture 

views upward of surrounding landmarks. Refer to 

Unifying Elements, Roof Form and Materials for more 

guidelines on clerestories and skylights. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

roof form and materials. 

Post office,Yosemite Village (1935) YRL 

Building Exterior for the Central Village 

Administrative Area 

A variety of exterior treatments are used in the Village 

center including exposed wood structural elements, 

wood siding with natural brown colors and rough 

textures, and a stone base or rusticated lower wall. 

GUIDELINES 

• Use such precedents as the Administration Building, 

the Museum, the post office, and historic residential 

housing as the inspiration for façade design and use of 

materials. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

building exterior. 

Site Furnishings for 

the Central Village 

Administrative Area 

The central Village administrative area will become the 

central gathering point for 

all visitors to the park. The 

design of site furnishings, 

therefore, should be consistent with Rustic style and 

must reinforce the historic importance of this area. 

Today, one finds benches without backs aligned in rows 

around the civic plaza. These benches consist of painted 

wood members on low granite pedestals. Signs and educational plaques vary in style and color. These, and pedestrian bollard lights are unrelated to the Rustic style and 

distract from the setting. 

Informal seating, log rounds (2004) TP 

108 NPS 
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Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

GUIDELINES 

• Select materials and components appropriate to the 

importance of this historic place. 

• While conforming to Valley standards, seating, barriers, 

wayside exhibits, etc., can also emphasize the importance of this area by using natural materials that are 

found on surrounding historic buildings. These could 

include generously sized granite boulders, slabs, and 

cedar logs. 

• Bench design is especially important, conveying rustic 

character in the vicinity of the Visitor Information 

and Orientation Center. Backrests add comfort and 

should be included in the design of benches. Accessibility 

standards require the addition of armrests in some 

benches in each area. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

fences, screens, barriers, benches, grading and 

drainage, and lighting. 

RESIDENTIAL AREAS 

There are four residential areas for employees in Yosemite 

Village: Upper Tecoya, Middle Tecoya, Lower Tecoya, 

and the Historic District residential area. 

Upper, Middle + Lower Tecoya 

This area stretches from the eastern edge of the maintenance area to the Medical Clinic, forming an arc along 

the contours, across the depositional fan of Indian Creek. 

Indian Creek divides Middle Tecoya from the Medical 

Clinic. All three of these areas are upslope from the 

talus line designated by the Yosemite Valley Plan and are 

therefore within the rockfall zone. 

Forest vegetation in the Upper and Middle 

Tecoya areas consists primarily of black oak, although 

considerable conifer encroachment is evident. The trees 

here are more stunted than those on the Valley bottom, 

presumably due to thin, rocky soils of the young 

colluvium formation. According to the Yosemite Valley Plan, 

Ahwahnee Row Houses 

109 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

this area is of minor scenic quality. Conditions in the 

Lower Tecoya neighborhood are quite different. 

The Lower Tecoya area is almost totally dominated 

by tall pine and cedar groves. The southerly portions of 

this area on the nearly flat valley floor could be subject 

to flooding from the Merced River and the lower reaches 

of Indian Creek. 

Upper Tecoya 

Upper Tecoya is a housing complex located north and 

northeast of the administrative center. It contains small, 

one- or one-and-one-half story detached, single-family, 

wood-frame residences; wood dormitory buildings; storage 

facilities for heavy transportation equipment; and a small 

parking lot. In addition, an area along the northern 

boundary of Yosemite Village contains a cluster of singlefamily and duplex units arranged along a curvilinear 

roadway. The houses, which were built in the 1960s, 

TOP LEFT Covered entrance to dorm at Lower Tecoya,Yosemite Village (2004) JM 

BOTTOM LEFT Roof with shed dormers on dorm at Lower Tecoya (2004) RF 

TOP RIGHT Stepped down massing on dorm at Lower Tecoya (2004) RF 

BOTTOM RIGHT Medical Clinic,Yosemite Village (2004) RF 

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Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

have vertical wood siding painted gray and composition 

shingle roofs. Most have attached garages (Land and 

Community Associates 1994). 

Middle Tecoya 

Middle Tecoya, located between the medical complex 

and a large parking lot, was constructed during the 

1970s. Most of the residences are one- or one-and-onehalf story wood-frame buildings, painted a tan color. 

They are smaller than other housing types, are more 

closely spaced, and are sited well with the existing 

topography. This area has an architectural character that 

is more contemporary, and less rustic, than the earlier 

residential developments in the Village. It reflects many 

features of Bay Area residential design from the post 

World War II period, such as rectangular forms, flat roofs, 

large single-pane wood windows, and various patterns of 

wood siding combined in one building. The houses are 

virtually concealed from public view by skillful siting 

on the forest slope, which creates a feeling of a separate 

neighborhood. Ten residences and their garages contribute 

to the historical significance of Yosemite Village (Land 

and Community Associates 1994). 

Lower Tecoya 

Most of the buildings in Lower Tecoya date from the 

period of historical significance and include the dorms, 

apartments and related laundry room, the Ahwahnee 

Row Houses, cottages, and converted cabins. A series of 

curvilinear roads connects the housing units (Land and 

Community Associates 1994). 

The Ahwahnee Row Houses are a group of structures built in the 1920s on the east side of Lower Tecoya. 

Many of these one- and two-story residences have 

enclosed patios and freestanding wood garages. Screen 

fencing is visually prominent because of the close spacing 

of the buildings and the narrowness of the street corridor. 

The Row Houses form a boundary between a densely 

developed and coniferous Lower Tecoya area and the open 

Ahwahnee meadow. The area is described in the 2000 

Yosemite Valley Plan as one of moderate scenic value. 

Dentist’s Residence,Yosemite Village 

(1932) YRL 

To the west of the 

row houses are four threestory dormitory-type 

wood buildings and an 

adjacent kitchen facility. 

These are more massive 

than the nearby Ahwahnee 

Row Houses. Half of the dormitories in Lower Tecoya 

were constructed in the late 1920s and significantly 

altered in the 1930s, while the other half were constructed 

in the 1930s and remain unchanged (Land and Community 

Associates 1994). 

The Lower Tecoya dorms are long, rectangular, 

three-story volumes with medium-pitch roofs and small 

shed dormers that articulate the top story. These relatively large buildings are reduced in scale by their roof 

form and varied siding patterns. The main roof is a simple gable, with the ridge continuing over projecting bays 

at the ends of the buildings. Main entrances are placed 

under gables at the ends of the buildings. The use of a 

corrugated metal roof is a unique element in the Village. 

The slate green board and batten exterior walls are a 

departure from standard National Park Service brown. 

These features help to unify the group while they 

differentiate the housing area from the maintenance 

and commercial facilities that are in close proximity. 

The area includes two vehicular and two pedestrian 

bridges over Indian Creek. 

The Medical Clinic 

At the east end of Yosemite Village is a medical and 

dental clinic with related support buildings. The original 

clinic building was constructed in 1930 as the Lewis 

Memorial Hospital in the Rustic style. A dental facility 

was added in 1954. The complex contains the medical 

facility, a parking lot, a dormitory with a two-story 

garage beneath, and two large, wood-frame residences 

(Land and Community Associates 1994). 

The dormitory and the residences were constructed 

at the same time as the clinic, in the same Rustic style. 

111 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

The original dentist’s residence is one of the finest 

examples in the Valley of a single-family dwelling designed 

with rustic features and details. It is sited to take advantage of its topography and setting at the foot of the 

talus slope (Land and Community Associates 1994). 

The medical clinic, the dormitory, and the residences are historically significant (Land and Community 

Associates 1994). 

GUIDELINES 

The Upper, Middle + Lower Tecoya Areas 

• For new construction in the Lower Tecoya area, 

consider flood potential along the lower reaches of 

Indian Creek. 

• Study forest conditions with respect to aging, diseased 

and/or hazard trees. The study (similar to the 

Bitterroot Study for Yosemite Lodge) should be the 

basis for planting decisions (including conifer removals 

and oak replacements), riparian vegetation restoration, 

and yard planting particularly along Ahwahnee Row. 

The study should consider the relation of vegetation 

in Lower Tecoya to succession in Ahwahnee Meadow. 

• The character of small homes sited among trees and 

talus blocks on a sloping plane should be retained in 

the Upper and Middle Tecoya areas. 

• To the greatest extent possible, residential yards and 

fencing in Middle and Upper Tecoya should be placed 

behind houses and garages and in locations hidden 

from public view. See also NPS Residential Yard Care 

Policy (NPS 2001d). 

• Shrubs, herbaceous plants, and trees should be limited 

to species indigenous to Yosemite Valley and appropriate 

to the Indian Creek depositional fan. They should be 

allowed to grow taking natural shapes. See also NPS 

Residential Yard Care Policy. (NPS 2001d) 

• Landscape facilities such as bear-proof dumpsters and 

other trash storage, self storage units, and the like, 

should be clustered and screened behind structures 

that harmonize with the surrounding architectural 

character. See the March 2002 Cultural Landscape 

Treatment Recommendations, Yosemite Village Historic 

District Housing Area (NPS 2002a) as a model for 

treatment of such items in historic residential districts. 

Seasonal vegetation changes, winter conditions, and 

possible hazards should be taken into account. 

• Recognize and reinforce the distinguishing scale and 

character of the buildings in each residential area by 

making new development compatible with the existing. 

• Employ the architectural features discussed in 

Unifying Elements and Guidelines for Yosemite Valley 

to achieve compatibility between new development 

and historically significant residential areas. 

• Tree mounted lighting is non-conforming and should 

be replaced to meet the standards described in the 

Unifying Elements Lighting section of this document. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

pedestrian bridges, fences, and lighting. 

Historic District Residential Area 

The oldest housing development in Yosemite Village is 

the Historic District residential area, which is listed in the 

National Register of Historic Places. Located northwest 

of the Village center, it has a neighborhood character 

and is comprised mainly of single-family dwelling units 

arranged along a series of curvilinear roads (Land and 

Community Associates 1994). Historically significant 

elements in the Historic District include many of the 

residences, as well as structures, clusters of buildings, 

and circulation routes (Land and Community 

Associates 1994). 

Lying just east of the Lower Yosemite Fall area, 

this development sits on the level plane of the Valley 

floor, outside the Yosemite Valley Plan talus zone. Located 

on the warmer north side of the Valley and away from 

flood and rockfall zones this site was optimal for residential use. Large, overarching California black oaks dominate 

the landscape in this area, presumably taking advantage 

of deep soils. The trees impart a gracious manicured 

112 NPS 
� 

Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

TOP LEFT Village Apartment in Yosemite Village Historic District residential area TOP RIGHT End view of Village Apartment 

BOTTOM Houses in Yosemite Village Historic District residential area 

113 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Village Apartment detail,Yosemite Village Historic District residential area 

park-like feeling. Other vegetation in this area consists 

of understory native trees and shrubs, meadows, manicured lawns, ornamental trees planted in beds, shrubs, 

and ground covers. 

All buildings and structures date from the period 

of historical significance for Yosemite Valley (1851 to 

1945), with the exception of seven residences and the 

elementary school which were built in the 1950s. Most 

of the residences, apartments, dormitories, garages, and 

woodsheds that contribute to the historic district were 

constructed during the 1920s and 1930s and have undergone few, if any, exterior alterations. The houses built 

between 1927 and 1940 reflect the development of 

Rustic architecture by the San Francisco Field Office of 

the National Park Service. Three Army residences, built 

in 1911 and 1912, were relocated from Yosemite Lodge 

to this area in 1929. Their character is typical of rural 

houses of the period that predates the National Park 

Service Rustic era, but they are also historically significant (Land and Community Associates 1994). 

The Rustic residences are one- and two-story 

wood-frame buildings clad with wood siding materials 

such as coursed shakes, shingles, or lapped boards. Many 

of the houses from the Rustic period have stone chimneys 

and stone masonry cladding at the foundations and 

porches. Roofs were originally wood shingles, but some 

are now composition shingle. Most of the one-story 

residences have simple, rectangular plans and low-pitch 

gable roofs. Some two-story residences have steeper 

roofs with dormers. Typical rustic details include wood 

double-hung windows, wood panel doors, exposed roof 

rafters at eaves, decorative wood brackets, and porches 

and exterior stairs with wood railings. There are also 

two apartment buildings that share similar rustic 

features and details. They feature open porches in the 

center that incorporate recessed stairs (Land and 

Community Associates 1994). 

While development in this historic district is not 

foreseen, minor improvements may be necessary to 

adapt structures to contemporary uses, as well as to 

make landscape areas accommodate National Park 

Service residents’ daily activities. 

114 NPS 
� 

Y OSEMITE V ILL A GE 

GUIDELINES 

• The open park-like setting of historic residences under 

large spreading mature black oaks must be preserved 

when considering new, restored, or enlarged buildings 

and maintenance operations. 

• Reforestation of black oak in this area should be based 

on detailed review of overall forest health including 

the potentials for aging and hazard conditions. 

• Control garden and lawn irrigation within drip lines 

of black oaks. Refer to Residential Yard Care Policy 

(NPS 2001d) and Cultural Landscape Treatment 

Recommendations, Yosemite Village Historic District 

Housing Area (NPS 2002a). 

• Revegetation of foundation plantings at the perimeter 

of residences must be based on the pattern established 

in the period of significance but should not affect the 

health of adjacent black oaks. 

• Proposed landscape elements such as fences, screens, 

retaining walls, etc. visible to public streets and 

pedestrian ways should be carefully reviewed to preserve the open park-like character of the neighborhood. 

See also the Residential Yard Care Policy (NPS 2001d) 

for more detailed guidelines regarding: 

Historic house porch,Yosemite Village Historic District residential area 

Trash storage 

Shrubs and herbaceous plants 

Side and back yards 

Self storage units 

Fencing at the schoolhouse 

Northern drainage ditch 

• Historic buildings are the primary elements of the 

cultural landscape in the historic residential district. 

Their original exterior design elements should be preserved to the fullest extent feasible. More latitude may 

be taken with the buildings’ interiors in order to adapt 

them to changing, contemporary uses. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

vegetation and management of oak woodlands in 

relation to conifer encroachment. 

MAINTENANCE, SERVICE + STORAGE AREAS 

The maintenance, service, and storage areas are found in 

a talus zone directly below Castle Cliffs, well within the 

rockfall zone. While oaks still dominate the thin soils at 

the base of the cliffs, they are stunted and smaller than 

those on the deeper soils in the Historic District residential area. The Scenic Analysis of the Yosemite Valley 

Plan describes this as an area of moderate scenic value. 

The park maintenance and concessioner facilities 

consist of a cluster of buildings with a north-south 

orientation. Development extends north to the base of 

the talus slope. More than half the buildings in the area 

date from the 1920s and are historically significant. 

Stable facilities and day corrals are nearby in the 

southwest corner of this area (Land and Community 

Associates 1994). 

The focal point of the complex is the two-story 

utility building referred to as NPS Operations Building 

(Fort Yosemite), constructed of patterned concrete with 

large garage bays on the first floor. The building also has 

a central tower adjacent to the entrance, industrial windows, and a composition shingle roof. The largest structure in the complex is the concessioner warehouse, a 

115 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

modern concrete building with a standing-seam metal 

roof. The main concessioner shop is also an important 

building, reminiscent of an Arts & Crafts era barn (NPS 

2004d). Smaller buildings surround the maintenance 

building, including a stable, a barn, warehouses, offices, 

and a garage. Located on the eastern edge of the complex 

is a magistrate courthouse. 

G UIDELINES 

• Within these areas, trees provide visual relief and 

shade. As trees die or are removed, new trees should 

be planted. 

• Consider planting oak trees to screen or visually 

soften utilitarian buildings and structures from access 

roads, adjacent residential areas, and surrounding high 

country vista points. 

• Recognize the scale and character of the buildings in 

each area and make new development compatible. 

• For new projects, architectural character in the maintenance area may reflect a more utilitarian design 

approach by making use of building materials and 

details that are suitable for industrial buildings. 

• Metal roofing is an appropriate material in the 

maintenance area if it has a muted gray color and a 

non-reflective finish. Refer to Unifying Elements for 

more guidelines on roof form and material. 

• Service and utility lighting may be excessively visible 

from public roads and vista points on surrounding 

cliffs. Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on lighting. 

NPS Operations Building (Fort Yosemite), Yosemite Village 

116 NPS 

C URR Y VILLAGE 

INTRODUCTION 119


SETTING 120


Natural Systems + Features 120


Scenic Views 121


Vegetation 123


LANDSC APE USES + STRUCTURES 124


Land Use + Spatial Organization 124


Circulation + Parking 125


Small Buildings + Structures 125


Grading + Drainage 125


Barriers, Fences + Benches 126


Lighting 126


DEVELOPED AREAS 127


Village Center 127


Cabins 132


Employee Housing 136


OVERLEAF CurryVillage tent cabins (1947) YRL-RA 
D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VA LLEY 

CURR Y VILLAGE 

CAMP CURRY was established in 1899 by David and Jennie Curry. With its 

tent cabins and communal dining hall, Camp Curry offered a more affordable 

lodging experience than other accommodations in Yosemite Valley. As its 

popularity grew, Camp Curry quickly expanded from a dozen tent cabins 

to hundreds in a matter of years. By 1905, roads connected Camp Curry to 

the Old Village to the west, and the Currys had constructed dozens of tent 

cabin platforms, permanent dining and registration buildings, bathrooms, 

and tennis and croquet facilities. In 1922 a group of 48 wooden bungalows 

were completed to the west of the core facility area, providing another 

level of accommodations separated from the main body of tents. By that 

time, Camp Curry had telephones, evening movies, a pool hall and dance 

pavilion, a gas station and garage, a soda fountain, and numerous cottages 

and other residences for employees. The need for increased parking was 

met in 1927 by parking between the rows of apple trees in the nearby 

orchard. After a slow period during the Depression and World War II, 

visitation to Curry Village increased dramatically. By 1959, the camp 

operated almost 500 tents and 200 bungalow and cabin rooms. Various 

other changes occurred in the postwar period. The old dance hall was 

converted to the Stoneman Lodge and used for lodging. The central dining 

facility, dating from 1929, burned down to its foundations and was rebuilt 

in the same location. A new pool and bathhouse and a new skating rink 

were also built. 

...good beds, good meals and courteous treatment...my camps are designed for those who, 

whether from necessity or inclination, wish to make their money go as far as it will. 

C AMP CURRY PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE • C A . 1900 

� 119 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

With few exceptions, Curry Village retains its 

overall integrity to its period of significance, which 

ended in 1942. Since its inception there has been a consistent use of Rustic design, which helps the buildings 

blend with the natural environment and preserves the 

primitive character of the National Park System. Today 

Curry Village is the last significant example of its kind. 

Because of these attributes, Curry Village was placed 

on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 

(NPS 1976b). 

s etting 

NATURAL SY STEMS + FEATURES 

Curry Village is located south of the Merced River, at 

the east end of Yosemite Valley. It is in a cool, shaded 

portion of the Valley, in the shadow of Glacier Point and 

the adjacent 4,000-foot cliffs. While the shady climate is 

a relief from summer heat, Curry Village gets little winter 

sun and is subject to freezing temperatures and fog in 

that season. Snow stays on the ground longer there, 

compared to the north side of the Valley. This is a significant issue in view of plans to increase winter visitation. 

The center of Curry Village was established on the 

flat Valley floor at the toe of a talus slope. Over time the 

camp has expanded to the east and west, along the base 

of the talus slope, with some structures quite close to 

the base of the cliffs. Dozens of tent cabins and wood 

cabins are scattered among massive talus blocks and 

smaller boulders in an area now designated a hazardous 

rockfall zone (NPS 200b). Today the hazard of rockfall 

precludes any new construction within the delineated 

rockfall zone. 

A significant drainage runs through the center 

of Curry Village. Runoff flows in a northerly direction 

from the cliffs and talus slope, through the village’s 

central space, across the meadow to the Merced River. 

The water deposits large quantities of rock, gravel and 

sand in the village center which has historically created 

Camp Curry campfire (ca. 1903) YRL 

a variety of problems. Several seasonal tributary creeks 

and drainages also flow from south to north through 

developed areas of Curry Village to the Merced River. 

The Merced River is too far removed to have a 

strong relationship to most of Curry Village. Views of 

the river are prevented by distance, vegetation, and Curry 

Village’s low elevation. However, the proposed employee 

housing area will be within 500 feet of the river and 

directly adjacent to the River Protection Overlay. 

The encroachment of trees makes it difficult to see 

waterfalls across the Valley toward the north and northwest when viewed from the central core area of Curry 

Village. Staircase Falls is seasonally visible to the west, 

descending from high up on the cliffs. 

GUIDELINES 

• Vegetation management should focus on the removal 

of conifers where appropriate in order to increase the 

level of daylight during the winter. 

• Employee housing units should be clustered in groups 

around the edges of open spaces to take advantage of 

natural light and views. 

• Careful consideration should be given to the problem 

of icy walkways in winter, both in the selection of 

paving type and decisions on gradient. 

• The drainage that runs through the central open space 

of Curry Village should be treated as an amenity, and 

possibly interpreted, with and without water flow. For 

example, consider restoration of low riparian vegetation 

and interpretative stations indicating the hydrological 

phenomena from Staircase Falls to the Merced River. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

climate and the Merced River. 

120 NPS 
�


C URRY V ILL A GE 

22 

4 

2 

5 

1 

3 

19 

1 Toboggan Run 14 Bathhouse 

2 Huff House 15 Tent Cabins 

3 48 Wood Bungalows 16 Employee Tent Cabins 

4 Stoneman Bridge 17 South Lamon Orchard 

5 Ice Skating Rink 18 Swimming Pool 

6 Stoneman Lodge 19 LeConte Memorial Lodge 

7 Registration Office/Post Office (fountains, walls, steps) 

8 Southside Drive 20 Dining/Retail Building 

9 Mother Curry Bungalow 21 Mountain Shop 

10 Lounge (Historic Registration Office) 22 Merced River 

11 Amphitheater 23 Stoneman Meadow 

12 Wood Cabins 24 Lower Pines Campground 

13 Foster Curry Cabin 

(Tresidder Residence) 

SCENIC VIEWS 

Views of surrounding Yosemite Valley landmarks 

inspired the original siting of Camp Curry, and helped 

determine the internal layout of the developed area. 

Views from the village center of Half Dome, Glacier 

Point, Royal Arches, Washington Column, and North 

Dome are impressive and define the character of Curry 

Village to a significant degree (NPS 2004d). 

Today, the encroachment of trees makes it difficult 

to see Yosemite Falls from the village center. Views of 

23 

24 

8 

17 

16 

21 6 7 

10 

9 15 18 14


11 20


12 16 

13 

almost all surrounding features may soon be blocked out 

by conifers, which will profoundly affect the character of 

Curry Village. 

GUIDELINES 

• New buildings or clusters of buildings should be sited 

to take advantage of views to surrounding natural 

features, including the steep talus slope to the south. 

• Walkways and gathering areas should be oriented to 

optimize views of Half Dome, Glacier Point, Royal 

Arches, Washington Column, and North Dome. 

121 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

TOP LEFT North Dome and Washington Column from Camp Curry TOP RIGHT Early toboggan slide structure at Camp Curry (no longer extant) 

BOTTOM Curry Village entrance marker (1927) YRL 

122 NPS 
�


C URRY V ILL A GE 

• Clusters of buildings should not block views to the 

forest and talus slopes to the south. Look for opportunities to frame these views. Restore historic views, 

including winter views. For example, the historic setting 

of the ice rink had a view of Half Dome. Half Dome 

was also the backdrop for the historic, though no longer 

extant, toboggan run. 

• Prune or remove coniferous trees to regain views to 

Yosemite Falls. 

• The turnoff road should be aligned for a direct or 

prominent view of the historic Camp Curry welcome 

sign. This view should not be interrupted or flanked 

by parked cars or buses. 

• Parking for guest arrival should not obscure the view 

corridors to the north from the central village. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on views. 

VEGETATION 

Vegetation at Curry Village is dominated by mature 

conifers, especially ponderosa pine and incense-cedars. 

The understory vegetation is big leaf maple, California 

black oak, and dogwood typical of the shady, moist 

south side of Yosemite Valley. There have been historic 

trends at Curry—as in other areas of the Valley—of 

increased coniferous forest cover and the incremental 

destruction of riparian vegetation along annual 

drainages and creeks. 

In the early years, the Curry family hired professional landscape architects to design and manage 

naturalistic planting arrangements. Over the years, 

these professionals removed trees and other vegetation 

they felt blocked important views, while preserving 

trees they felt were significant. They also planted shrubs 

and other vegetation around buildings. Since the 1970s, 

revegetation of formerly open areas of Curry Village 

has confused the historic spatial organization. Many 

of the plants in this area are immature enough to 

be transplanted. 

Stoneman Meadow lies on the flat river plain north 

of the center of Curry Village. Portions of the meadow 

lie in the 100-year floodplain of the Merced River. 

Lamon Orchard, originally part of the meadow, was laid 

out by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and planted with nonnative fruit trees. It was later paved over for roads and 

parking areas. 

GUIDELINES 

• Vegetation management should be based on detailed 

studies of plant community and species conditions, 

including health and hazard potential. An emphasis 

should be placed on enhancing and restoring oak 

woodlands where appropriate. 

• Consider thinning conifer stands to allow more light 

into lodging areas. 

• New plantings at the employee housing area should 

replicate the transition of vegetation found in Curry 

Village, from the forested talus zone at the south to the 

meadow vegetation at the edge of Stoneman Meadow 

to the north. The object is a stabilized vegetation zone 

with emphasis on removal of conifers, favoring protection and restoration of California black oak. 

• Stoneman Meadow should be restored to the maximum 

extent feasible by removal of pavements, compacted 

soils, culverts, and engineered drainage channels. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on vegetation. 

Western dogwood 

123 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

landscape uses/structures 

LAND USE + SPATIAL ORGANIZATION 

The overall layout of Curry Village is linear, with 

buildings arranged on sloping ground along the base of 

the cliffs. The village center contains public gathering, 

dining, and recreational functions. Guest quarters—in 

the form of tent cabins and wood cabins—lie to the east 

and west of the village center. The cabins are arranged in 

tiers up to the talus zone at the base of Glacier Point, with 

tent cabins and wood cabins located in separate clusters. 

The village center is defined by public buildings 

and structures surrounding a central open space, 

establishing the arrival and public gathering areas for the 

Village. The south edge of the central space is defined 

by a strong line of cabins with Glacier Point looming 

dramatically overhead. 

The area to the east of the village center includes 

hundreds of one-room tent cabins. The small scale of 

the individual tents, set close together in irregular rows, 

creates a unique spatial character. The sense of enclosure 

in this area has a marked contrast to the grandeur experienced in other areas of Yosemite Valley (NPS 1976b). 

Wood cabins with and without baths are grouped 

together west of the village center. These cabins are 

larger than the tent cabins, set with more space between 

them and laid out in rows that are straighter and more 

regular (NPS 1976b). 

GUIDELINES 

• Retain and strengthen the spatial organization of


the village center, with the existing public buildings


defining spaces for outdoor activities, socializing, 


and programs.


• New construction in the vicinity of the wood cabins 

should be compatible with the existing spatial organization found there. 

• Historic landscape elements like the Toboggan Run


should be recognized. 


NPS 

• Where possible, site new buildings in areas designated 

for diseased or hazard tree removal, rather than siting 

them where healthy trees are growing. Refer to existing 

or ongoing National Park Service studies of plant 

community conditions for further guidance. 

• Screen planting in the central plaza area should be 

removed or reduced and transplanted to re-establish 

the spatial layout of the historic Curry Village for 

arriving guests. 

• There should be a partial screen consisting of understory trees and shrubs (reinforcing existing natural 

conditions) between new employee housing area and 

the adjacent historic area. This should be informal 

and based on black oak forest plant communities, as 

directed by park resources staff. 

Cabins at Camp Curry 

124 
�


C URRY V ILL A GE 

CIRCULATION + PARKING 

Camp Curry was historically approached by two roads: 

one from the Old Yosemite Village to the west, and the 

other from Stoneman Bridge to the northwest. Today 

vehicular access is limited mainly to the northwestern 

approach. The western approach has been converted to 

parking and a foot trail. 

Within the developed area circulation is primarily 

pedestrian and characterized by relatively unstructured 

movement on packed earth trails. In heavier use areas, 

paths of asphalt pavement have been used to confine 

pedestrian circulation. 

In the early days, there was apparently little structure to where vehicles parked at Camp Curry. One parking 

area existed outside the main gate in approximately the 

same location as the parking lot today. By 1927, as more 

visitors were arriving by car, the nearby Lamon apple 

orchard was converted into a parking area (NPS 2004d). 

GUIDELINES 

• The arrival road into Curry Village should be flanked 

by broad swaths of meadow vegetation or California 

black oak woodland and open understory vegetation. 

• Preserve the packed earth paths that define the historic 

circulation system throughout Curry Village. 

• Align pedestrian ways to take advantage of scenic or 

prominent natural features outside of and surrounding 

the employee housing area. 

• Pedestrian pathways in the new employee housing area 

should relate to the simple primitive nature of pathways 

serving the wood cabins in Curry Village. The width 

should reflect path hierarchy in cluster and common 

open space areas. 

• Refer to Entrance Markers in Unifying Elements 

and Guidelines for a discussion of the Camp Curry 

welcome sign and gateway. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

circulation and parking. 

SMALL BUILDINGS + STRUCTURES 

Comfort stations, laundry facilities, and more recent 

non-historic buildings are placed along primary pedestrian routes serving the tent and wooden cabins. Guest 

service aids, including newspaper racks, bear-proof trash 

and recycling bins, bicycle racks, and food storage and 

linen lockers are scattered throughout the core area and 

to a lesser extent into the cabin areas. Except for the 

bicycle racks, most of these are painted various shades 

of brown. Illuminated telephone booths can be found 

either free standing or incorporated into small buildings 

or verandahs. 

GUIDELINES 

For guidelines on small buildings, masonry, foot bridges, 

boardwalks, culvert crossings, retaining walls, and 

fences/benches, refer to Unifying Elements. 

GRADING + DRAINAGE 

Nestled up against the cliffs, Curry Village lies on a 

sloping site, with an approximate five-foot drop from 

north to south across the area. The creek from Staircase 

Falls is the source of the only significant year-round 

drainage, running from south to north through the 

village center. It crosses several major pedestrian routes 

and the sloping central open space, depositing sand and 

gravel wash. 

Several smaller drainages impact the area as well. 

Although they are seasonal, carrying snow melt and 

rainfall runoff from Moran and Glacier Points, they have 

been substantial enough to require stone clad culvert 

crossings. They can carry considerable loads in heavy 

winter storms and produce accumulations of sand and 

gravel wash, especially at the base of cabins south of the 

village center. Additional studies are ongoing to determine 

the distribution, impact, and future morphological 

dynamics of these drainages. 

125 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

GUIDELINES 

• Planning for the central open space at the village center 

should take into account the slope from south to north 

across the area. The design must meet the accessibility 

standards on both level and sloping ground. 

• Drainages that are currently culverted across the 

housing area to Stoneman Meadow and the Lamon 

Orchard area should be opened, ecologically restored 

if necessary, and interpreted for visitors. 

• Refer to the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 

Management Plan regarding zoning within the Merced 

River corridor River Protection Overlay. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

grading and drainage. 

BARRIERS, FENCES + BENCHES 

Much of the fencing and structural screens in Curry 

Village are associated with historic buildings or occur in 

the historic districts. Nevertheless fencing in this shaded 

side of the Valley shows the wearing effects of longer 

winters and deeper snow fields. 

Many planted areas and areas of natural vegetation 

are separated from walkways and are edged with barriers 

of small diameter logs (and finished lumber in some areas) 

as well as post and rope barriers. Some appear permanent, 

and others provide temporary protection of planted area. 

Seating in the village center varies, from horizontal 

half-round logs and shaped stumps used as benches to the 

recycled plastic furniture on the Meadow Deck. 

GUIDELINES 

• As much of Curry Village lodging area is within the 

talus zone, nested flat top boulders may be considered 

for seating, in addition to the forms recommended in 

the Unifying Elements and Guidelines. 

• Low boulder-reinforced grade changes, with planting, 

should be used where barriers are desired, parallel to 

contours on sloping areas. 

• Continue to use wood branches or cedar posts and 

rope to protect vegetated areas. This is unique to 

Curry Village and is a distinctive and visually 

appropriate system for the central village area. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements and Guidelines for more 

guidelines on benches, fences, gates, structural 

screens, enclosures, and barriers. 

LIGHTING 

Lighting of pedestrian ways and public gathering spaces 

at Curry Village is provided by a limited number of 

pedestrian standards and soffit lights mounted on cabins 

and other buildings. Sparse lighting is particularly 

appropriate in the tent cabin area where, because of 

the presence of large talus blocks and numerous trees, 

a primitive quality dominates. 

The canvas tent cabins themselves become a 

source of light. At night, when lit from the interior, 

they glow, creating an almost magical environment in 

that area. 

GUIDELINES 

• Because of the primitive nature of the tent cabin area, 

lighting of pedestrian walks should be particularly 

subtle and limited without compromising reasonable 

safety standards. 

• For more guidance on lighting refer to the Exterior 

Lighting Guidelines Final Draft Report, Yosemite 

National Park (NPS 1997a). 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on lighting. 

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C URRY V ILL A GE 

develo p ed a reas 

VILLAGE CENTER 

The Entrance Marker 

The Camp Curry gateway stands as the historic entry 

into the village center. Characterized by its use of native 

materials in their natural state, it acts as a wayfinding 

marker and announces the special, rustic character of 

the place. The use of unpeeled logs has a thematic link 

to the early buildings in Camp Curry (NPS 1980a). Both 

the character of the entrance gateway and its original 

function as the gateway to Camp Curry are historically 

significant features. 

GUIDELINES 

• The historical significance of the entrance gateway as 

the gateway to Curry Village should be restored and 

identified as the major pedestrian entry point. This 

can be accomplished through improvements to the 

arrival and circulation patterns at the village center. 

Siting + Building Orientation 

The village center is defined by freestanding buildings 

surrounding a central open space. The lounge and registration buildings lie to the west of the central open space, 

and visitor service buildings like the store and cafeteria 

lie to the east. These buildings, and the spaces between 

them, provided Curry Village with outdoor gathering 

points for both organized and informal functions. 

Today the buildings on the east side of the village 

center—including the dining hall and the Mountain 

Shop—have been joined into one linear complex. 

The buildings on the west side of the center— 

the lounge and the registration building—are still freestanding. The outdoor amphitheater is connected to the 

south side of the lounge building by a small platform 

stage. Enclosing the village center to the south is a 

strong line of wood cabins, backed by the massive walls 

of Glacier Point. 

GUIDELINES 

• New work at the village center should recognize 

and be compatible with the established siting and 

building orientation. 

• The village center, currently defined by buildings 

and trees, should neither be weakened by the removal 

of buildings nor obscured by new structures or 

landscaping. 

• The sense of the village center as a place for gathering 

should be strengthened by simplification of planting 

and pedestrian circulation and the incorporation of 

interpretive stations. 

• Service access to the dining and service facilities, 

because of its location adjacent to sleeping quarters, 

requires visual screening and acoustical control. 

Curry Village Entrance, Lounge, and Registration buildings 

127 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Architectural Character 

The founders of Camp Curry established a rustic camp 

with a distinct atmosphere and primitive style of accommodation. The historically significant elements in this 

area are the Camp Curry entrance gateway, the lounge, 

and the registration building. The entrance gateway, 

with its unpeeled logs and old fashioned filament light 

bulbs, is emblematic of Rustic design. Especially when 

lit up at night, the gateway announces that Camp Curry 

is a special place. The lounge is a one-story wood-frame 

structure with a rectangular plan and a hipped roof. The 

roof was originally covered with wood shingles that have 

been changed to asphalt sheet. Skylights allow natural 

light into the interior. An intimately scaled verandah 

along the front of the building at one time engaged a 

large ponderosa pine. The tree was in sharp contrast 

in scale to the simple structure. The stump has been 

preserved as a seat. 

The Mountain Shop has been altered since its 

construction in 1927, although some of its characterdefining features still remain. The use of a generous 

clerestory that allows views of Glacier Point gives the 

space a lively character and brings in natural light. The 

interesting bay window to the east side had a view of 

Half Dome that is now obscured by trees. 

Although the existing dining pavilion lacks the 

spirit of the original Ted Spencer building it replaced, 

it establishes a compatible character. The decorative 

approach to detailing and the breaking down of the 

large façade with a patterning of wall treatments help 

link it to the older rustic buildings at Curry Village. 

Arbors and pergolas used on the historic building 

were discontinued. 

Camp Curry Dining Hall (1929) YRL 

128 NPS 
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C URRY V ILL A GE 

The heavily remodeled buildings on the east side 

of the village center, including the new food service 

facility and the cafeteria, are without noteworthy 

character and do not contribute to the historic setting. 

Although the original buildings of each period had a 

unique architectural character, the significant elements 

have been obscured by later remodeling, resulting in 

lackluster character. 

GUIDELINES 

• New buildings should be compatible with the historically significant buildings yet be distinctly contemporary. New work should be inspired by, but should not 

imitate, existing historic structures. Occasional use of 

historic references can be appropriate to make new 

buildings compatible with the spirit of Curry Village, 

consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for 

the Treatment of Historic Properties. 

• New work on the east side of the village center should 

be inspired by the character defined by the Mountain 

Shop and the dining pavilion. 

• New work on the west side of the village center 

should retain the character-defining elements of the 

lounge and the registration building. 

Building Shape + Massing 

Buildings in the village center are one story in height. 

Those on the east side are contained in a stepped plan 

arrangement that turns the corner to the east. This 

conceals the kitchen and service areas from the dining 

room. The buildings on the west side are freestanding 

and have simple plan forms and low profiles. 

GUIDELINES 

• Use compatible forms for the overall shape of new 

buildings. Recognize the scale of existing buildings, 

especially the lounge. 

• New additions to the existing buildings on the east 

side of the village center should be articulated to 

reduce the apparent size of the complex. 

TOP Historic view of dining hall at Camp Curry from photo by J.T. Boyston 

BOTTOM Clerestory of Mountain Shop, Curry Village 

Roof Form + Materials 

The buildings in the village center have medium-pitched 

roofs with either gable or hip forms. The dining pavilion 

has a concentric hip roof. The Mountain Shop has a gable 

roof with a clerestory that provides views of Glacier 

Point. (Ted Spencer, the architect of the original cafeteria, 

employed a similar clerestory in the Yosemite Lodge 

Store.) Skylights are also found in the lounge. 

In recent years, asphalt shingles have replaced 

wood shingles on most buildings in the village center. 

GUIDELINES 

• Use medium pitched roofs, either gable or hipped. 

• Use dormers, shed or gable, as well as skylights to 

bring light into interior spaces. 

129 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

TOP LEFT Mountain Shop window detail TOP RIGHT Mountain Shop bay window BOTTOM Early view of Camp Curry cafeteria (now the Mountain Shop). The building was 

notched to accommodate the large conifers. Conifers have since been replaced with a deck. (date unknown) YRL 

130 NPS 
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C URRY V ILL A GE 

Building Exterior 

The lounge is a significant example of the historic rustic 

character found at Curry Village. The exterior walls 

consist of an applied frame of unpeeled log posts and 

sawn beams. Strips of cedar bark are used as infill siding 

in a herringbone pattern. The porch roof is supported 

on unpeeled log columns. The typical wood casement 

window is divided into six lights (NPS 1976b). 

The Mountain Shop is an example of a transitional 

rustic design. This building features horizontal wood 

siding, glazed wood doors with a predominant horizontal 

muntin pattern, and decorative details at rafter ends and 

wall corners. 

GUIDELINES 

• New buildings should have a protected base of board 

formed concrete, as called for in the Unifying 

Elements and Guidelines. 

• Continue the use of the historic brown color, both as 

a unifying treatment and to comply with historic 

preservation requirements. Lighter hues may be appropriate at porch ceilings to create a cheerful ambience. 

• Wood siding with resawn surfaces should be compatible 

with the adjacent buildings. However, the use of details 

such as twigs, bark, logs, etc. is not recommended. 

• Generous porches or verandahs that wrap around the 

public sides of buildings are recommended. Capture 

the scale of existing porches for new work. If seating 

is desired, it is recommended to use built-in elements 

in order to avoid clutter. Porches and verandahs should 

be scaled for seating as well as circulation. Wood plank 

floors typical of the early buildings are recommended. 

• Railings, wood decks, ramps, and benches should be 

sized and detailed to endure exposure to rain and 

snow. Select wood species for their ability to withstand 

the elements yet be friendly and soft to the touch. Port 

Orford cedar is appropriate for handrails as it does not 

produce splinters as it weathers. 

• Arrangements of doors and windows should follow 

regular patterns and also respond to interior requirements. Window proportions and sizes should be more 

generous than those of guest quarter buildings. Wood 

windows and glazed wood doors with generous lights 

are recommended. 

• Exposed framing such as rafters should be sized more 

generously than for conventionally framed buildings. 

• Consider use of arbors and pergolas at entrances 

and terraces of the food service buildings to define 

outdoor spaces and pleasant transitions between 

indoors and outdoors. 

• Refer to the character of existing historic buildings for 

the use of trim details, roof overhangs, and porches. 

Stoneman Lodge, Camp Curry (2004) RF 

131 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

C ABINS 

The guest quarters at Curry Village consist of groups of 

tent cabins and wood cabins that have a primitive, spare 

quality. Visitor service buildings such as comfort stations 

and showerhouses are intermingled with the cabins. 

Siting + Building Orientation 

Located east of the village center, the white canvas, 

gable-form tent cabins are one of the most distinctive 

elements of Curry Village, recalling the original Camp 

Curry. Although they are arranged in rows, the placement 

of each individual unit responds to the immediate topography and natural features such as trees and boulders. 

The wood platforms allow the existing grade to continue 

around and under the tent cabins without undue grading. 

TOP Wood cabins without baths (WOBs), Curry Village BOTTOM Tent cabins, Curry Village (2004) JM 

132 NPS 
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C URRY V ILL A GE 

West of the village center, there are 48 wood cabins 

with baths. They are slightly larger than the tent cabins, 

and laid out in straighter, more regular rows, with their 

long sides parallel to pathways. The orientation of 

individual cabins within this arrangement has been 

adjusted to accommodate trees and boulders. However, 

cabin locations were not as sensitive to natural 

drainage patterns. 

The newer wood cabins without baths (known as 

WOBs) were built between the late 1920s and early 

1930s. Due in part to later modernization, these cabins 

lack the expressive detail and character of the earlier 

wood cabins (NPS 2004d). They are also grouped more 

densely and sometimes rotate their long sides perpendicular to the pathways 

GUIDELINES 

• New cabins should continue the siting and character 

of the historic cabins, including the integration with 

natural features like trees and boulders. The layout of 

pathways adjacent to new cabins should conform to 

existing patterns. 

Architectural Character 

The tent cabins exemplify the primitive character of 

Curry Village. They are built on wood platforms, and 

made of white canvas stretched over a wood frame. 

Their geometry is simple, with a gable roof and wooden 

steps leading from the grade to the door. The screened 

door has a canvas roll blind, as do the windows. 

The original wood cabins, nestled within the forest 

setting, define the character of the western area of 

Curry Village. Built between 1918 and 1922, the cabins 

have a rustic character derived from the use of simple 

gable forms, wood shingle roofs, applied half-log framing, 

tongue and groove diagonal wood siding between the 

frame elements, wood casement windows, and wood 

paneled doors. Some of the cabins have river-run stone 

masonry foundations and chimneys. Their dark brown 

color blends with the forest setting. 

TOP Wood cabin with boulder (2004) RF BOTTOM Trail leading to tent cabins and 

boulders, Curry Village 

133 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Tent interior, Curry Village (ca. 1917). Courtesy of the Huntington Library 

The inspiration for the wood cabins were two 

historic residences constructed by the Currys: the Foster 

Curry Cabin (1916) and Mother Curry Bungalow 

(1917). These buildings exemplify early efforts to 

establish a rustic theme for Curry Village. They are 

characterized by unpeeled log pilasters that simulate a 

structural frame and wall panels of unpeeled cedar bark 

(NPS 1976b). 

GUIDELINES 

• New cabins constructed outside of the historic 

district should reflect the original character of 

Curry Village. 

• The architectural character of new cabins should be 

compatible with the historic wood cabins without 

imitating them. New work should be recognizably 

contemporary. 

• Provision for winter occupancy will influence character 

of new buildings. This may cause them to differ from 

the historic buildings. 

Building Shape + Massing 

Building shape and massing are important characterdefining elements of the original wood cabins. These 

small buildings are one story, low in profile, and have 

no projecting bays. They have a rectangular plan and 

a gable roof. Porches without roofs are either flush 

with the grade or elevated, depending on the slope 

of the ground. 

GUIDELINES 

• In order to achieve compatibility, the shape and mass 

of new cabins should not depart significantly from 

those of the historic wood cabins. 

Roof Form + Materials 

The original wood cabins have gable roofs with medium 

pitch in the range of 5 in 12. Their overhangs are well 

proportioned for the mass of the buildings. Asphalt 

shingles have replaced wood shingles due to concern 

for fire. 

GUIDELINES 

• New cabins should have gable roof form with medium 

pitch to be compatible with the historic wood cabins. 

• Increased winter use and the need for snow management may influence design of roofs at entrances. The 

addition of small gables over some entrance doors 

has altered the original character of many cabins. The 

introduction of this functional element detracts from 

the building’s overall form. Entrances on the eave side 

of the building require protection from rain and snow. 

Projections from the roof should have structural 

elements that allow the shelter to stand and define the 

entrance. Alternatively, consider locating entrances on 

the gable side of the structure. 

134 NPS 
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C URRY V ILL A GE 

TOP Camp Curry bungalow (1926) YRL BOTTOM LEFT Mother Curry Bungalow 

Building Exterior 

The exterior walls of the original wood cabins consist of 

simulated half-log frames with infill sheathing of diagonal 

1-by-4, tongue-and-groove wood siding in a herringbone 

pattern. Other components include split-log gable ends, 

foundations of river-run stone, wood porches, paneled 

doors, and casement windows. Wood sash windows with 

true muntins are a key element of the building exterior. 

The cabins are unified by their brown color. 

BOTTOM RIGHT Foster Curry Cabin 

GUIDELINES 

• New cabins should have a base of form-board concrete. 

Cobbles may be considered as an alternative but they 

must be of compatible color and size to those found 

on historic wood cabins. 

• For one-story buildings, limit wall siding to one 

material and one pattern. 

135 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

• With the cabins in use year-round, the need for snow 

management may require a protected cabin entrance. 

Entrances should be placed on the gable ends of 

buildings or under porches with column support as 

required. Refer to Building Shape and Massing 

guidelines for Curry Village cabins. 

• Railings on porches are optional unless required 

by code. 

• Flush, painted, solid-core doors are recommended. 

Panel doors, if used, should use a compatible, simple 

design with a paint finish. 

• Use of divided lights in new cabins is not recommended. 

• Exposed roof framing of rough-sawn elements 

is recommended. 

• Attic vents of wood are recommended. 

• Continue the use of the established color for the 

historic cabins. 

• A subtle variation of the established color is recommended as a way to distinguish new cabins from 

historic ones. 

Wood Cabin with porch and rustic base, Curry Village (2004) RF 

EMPLOYEE HOUSING 

New employee housing will be built outside the Curry 

Village Historic District. This development should be of 

a character that is compatible with the historic district, 

yet express its own identity as a contemporary addition 

to Curry Village. 

Siting + Building Orientation 

The relationship between buildings and the landscape 

is one of the most distinctive characteristics of 

Curry Village. 

GUIDELINES 

• Cluster buildings around existing natural features. 

• Site buildings on the edges of open spaces and into 

the trees, and use the open spaces for natural light and 

views. It is important to preserve and enhance open 

spaces for gathering areas, since Curry Village is 

predominantly in the shade. Pedestrian access from 

parking areas to buildings should weave through these 

open spaces. 

• Recognize the historic Toboggan Run by retaining a 

visual corridor over its original alignment. 

• A transition zone of vegetation, boulders, and trees 

between the existing buildings at Curry Village and 

new buildings is important. New buildings must not 

intrude upon the integrity of the Curry Village 

Historic District. 

• New development must respect the boundary of the 

rockfall zone as established by the Yosemite Valley Plan. 

Architectural Character 

A major issue for new buildings outside the historic 

district is their compatibility with the existing historic 

buildings. Curry Village has a distinct architectural 

character defined by a consistent use of Rustic design 

principles. The employee housing area will become a 

new zone within the overall development of Curry 

Village. It is important that Rustic design principles be 

observed to achieve harmony with the historic district. 

136 NPS 
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C URRY V ILL A GE 

GUIDELINES 

• New development outside of the historic district 

should have an overall sense of belonging in Curry 

Village by sharing characteristics that are inspired 

and connected to Rustic design principles. 

• The character and detail of the new buildings should 

not replicate historic buildings. New buildings should 

incorporate the shape, mass, and gable roof forms of 

the historic buildings. Other features and details 

should be used to distinguish the new buildings as 

contemporary, consistent with the Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. 

Building Shape + Massing 

The consistent use of rectangular shape and simple mass 

as employed in the adjacent historic district will help 

achieve unity between the employee housing and the 

Camp Curry Historic District. While Curry Village consists entirely of one-story buildings, two-story buildings 

may be necessary for the new employee housing. Space is 

needed between the new and historic developments to 

provide a reasonable transition. 

GUIDELINES 

• Examine the scale and mass of the existing housing to 

make new development compatible with the historic 

district. 

• Establish a transition zone between the historic district 

and new development areas in which building scale 

and mass gradually increase. Sudden change in scale, 

shape or mass should be avoided. 

• Limit building height to two stories. 

• Use rectilinear forms for the overall mass, with 

projections as appropriate. 

• Locate stairs and porches within the main building 

volume in order to protect them from the weather. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

Building Shape and Massing. 

Exterior wall detail from historic wood cabin, Curry Village (2004) RF 

Roof Form + Materials 

The gable is the dominant roof form throughout the 

cabin areas. Asphalt shingles have replaced the historic 

wood shingles due to fire concerns. 

GUIDELINES 

• The roof form of new employee housing buildings 

should be a gable with the ridge parallel to the long 

side of the building. 

137 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Building Exterior 

A particular set of exterior features was used consistently 

in the historic cabins to achieve a rustic character. Key 

features include a protected base, applied pilasters to 

articulate facades, exposed roof framing details, wood 

sash windows, and a consistent color treatment. Many 

of these features remain relevant to the design of new 

buildings, as their use is not limited to a historic 

time period. 

With the advent of year-round use, new entrances 

and porches will have to accommodate snow control. 

GUIDELINES 

• Use board-formed concrete to form a protected base, 

consistent with recommendations in the Unifying 

Elements and Guidelines. 

• For one-story buildings, limit wall siding to one 

pattern. For two-story buildings, use of one siding 

pattern is preferred, but no more than two patterns 

should be used. The historic wood cabins serve as 

reference for use of wall materials. 

• Board and batten siding is recommended for its superior 

weathering properties and because it would be recognizably different from historic treatments. Other types 

of wood siding or shingles of various patterns may 

also be used. 

• Entrances should be placed on the gable ends or under 

porches for protection from the weather. Use of timber 

columns and beams at entrances and porches may be 

appropriate to announce the entrance. Service doors 

should be protected from snow with small roof extensions or porches. 

• Arrange windows in orderly and uniform manner 

reflecting the interior furniture layouts. Exterior doors 

should be sash or solid core. Windows should be 

metal-clad. Use windows without divided lights to 

distinguish new buildings from the historic ones. 

Back side of entrance marker, Curry Village 

• Wood trim elements should be oversized in width and 

thickness in order to give character to openings. 

•	 Outlookers are recommended as a detail for supporting 

roof overhangs at the gable ends. 

• The material and texture of exposed framing at eaves 

should be the same as the exterior siding. 

• Use subtle accent colors derived from the natural landscape to give relief to a monotone palette. Relate these 

to the historic brown color. 

138 NPS 

T HE AHW AHNEE


INTRODUCTION 141


SETTING 142


DEVELOPED AREA 145


OVERLEAF The Ahwahnee (1990) DNC-KW 
� 

D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

THE AHW AHNEE 

DESIGNED by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, The Ahwahnee is one of the 

most elaborate lodges ever built in the national parks. In its discussion of 

the specific significance of The Ahwahnee, the 1977 National Register 

nomination calls the hotel “among the most significant park hotels 

in the country,” in the company of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone, 

the El Tovar at the Grand Canyon. 

In spite of the difficulties encountered during the planning and 

construction of The Ahwahnee, most would agree that Underwood turned 

this challenging assignment into one of his greatest successes. Skillfully 

adopting a previously developed architectural vocabulary to a site where 

it was derived from the beginning to make the ahwahnee environmental in its architecture, rather than to follow any definite period. FROM A LETTER WRITTEN IN 1927 BY DONALD 

TRESSIDER, PRESIDENT OF THE YP&CC , TO FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED, LANDSC APE ARCHITECT 

proportions had to be carefully considered, he succeeded in creating a 

new interpretation of Rustic architecture. By echoing the Valley’s massive 

boulders, craggy cliffs, and towering forest, he forged new paths “different 

from anything previously built in the parks,” according to publicity bulletins 

periodically issued by the Yosemite Park & Curry Company during construction. The company called its style “environmental” to stress its 

departure from established forms of design (Zaitlin 1989). 

A few naturalists, who believed that any building in the park 

should be secondary to the landscape, were critical of the hotel’s lavishness. 

Among them was Ansel Adams, who wrote that “the architect had tried 

to compete with the environment. He lost.” But for those who understand 

the structure’s compatibility with the scale of its surroundings, the hotel is 

a unique and successful blend of Rustic with Art Deco elements. Its design 

represents a highly individualized interpretation of Rustic architecture 

(Zaitlin 1989). 

141 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Completed in 1927, The Ahwahnee has continued 

in operation to this day. The one exception is during 

World War II, when it was converted to a naval hospital. 

Despite this use, The Ahwahnee retains excellent 

integrity to the period of historical significance ending 

in 1942. The Ahwahnee was listed in the National 

Register in 1977, and was designated a National Historic 

Landmark for its significant architecture in 1987. 

s etting 

The Ahwahnee has an optimal location in Yosemite 

Valley, with stunning views, river access, and a mild 

local climate. The milder climate is due in part to the 

hotel’s elevated location, giving it access to a higher 

angle of sunlight from the southwest. Attesting to the 

site’s popularity, previous uses include an American 

Indian village, the Kenneyville Stables, J.C. Lamon’s 

Homestead, and the Aaron Harris public camping facility. 

1 

2 

9 

3 

4 

5 

6 

8 

7 

1 The Ahwahnee 

2 Gate Lodge and Post at Entrance 

Drive 

3 Employee Dorm and 3 Tent Cabins 

4 Fish Pond 

5 8 Wood Bungalows 

6 Ahwahnee Bridge 

7 Sugar Pine Bridge 

8 Merced River 

9 Ahwahnee Meadow 

142 NPS 
� 

T HE A H WAHNEE 

Sitting as it does, at the northeastern edge of the 

relatively secluded Ahwahnee Meadow, The Ahwahnee 

has impressive views of Glacier Point, Royal Arch 

Cascade, Royal Arches, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. 

It is within an “A” type scenic zone (the highest of three 

categories) and was a popular site for early photographers 

and artists (NPS 200b). 

The Merced River winds in a distinctive oxbow 

bend on the southern edge of the hotel site, creating an 

effective buffer between the hotel and Curry Village and 

the maze of public campgrounds that occupy the eastern 

end of the Valley. Elevated above the floodplain, The 

Ahwahnee was spared during the 1997 flood. While 

outside the talus zone as defined by the Yosemite Valley 

Plan, the hotel is within the “shadow line,” defined as 

the probable furthest extent of individual rocks beyond 

the talus line. 

Management of vegetation at The Ahwahnee has 

historically focused on attempts to present a natural 

meadow landscape and native woodlands, as well as to 

reinforce certain spatial sequences and impressions. To 

an impressive degree, the original landscape and overall 

site plan of the area have been maintained. Despite the 

encroachment of pines and cedars into black oak forests 

and meadows, vegetation management has successfully 

preserved views—both from the building to natural 

landmarks, and of the building in its meadow setting— 

while still maintaining the area’s sense of splendid 

isolation. These efforts were often based on intuition 

rather the in-depth horticultural or forestry knowledge, 

as is evident in the close planting of sequoias to screen 

buildings and tennis courts. In the 1920s, Olmsted added 

more vegetation to discourage deer and create a more 

varied and lush appearance. He also designed the pond 

in front of The Ahwahnee, landscaped with plantings 

representative of the various ecological zones in the park 

(Olmsted 1930). Much of this disappeared during World 

War II due to lack of maintenance. 

The Ahwahnee is accessed by a two-lane entrance 

road from Village Drive. The road provides access to the 

TOP Pair of lanterns at The Ahwahnee BOTTOM Porte-cochere,The Ahwahnee (2004) RF 

143 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

TOP The Ahwahnee with Upper Yosemite Fall (2003) GH 

BOTTOM Ahwahnee bungalow (2004) RF 

parking lot on the north side of the hotel, the porte 

cochere, and the service entrance to the hotel. 

From the parking lot, the hotel is screened by a 

porte-cochere generous enough to accommodate 4–6 

automobiles. Shrubs and trees (including sequoias) 

planted in the 1920s provide additional screening. The 

porte-cochere connects to a covered walkway, which in 

turn leads into the reception lobby of the hotel. From 

this point, access continues to shops, the dining room, 

the main lounge, and outdoor spaces on the south side of 

the hotel. The entrance is on the service side of the 

building, although the service areas and loading docks 

are completely hidden from view by a heavy board fence. 

The entrance, as originally conceived by Underwood, 

was to have been on the end of the northeast wing. A portico 

was built to cover the entrance, but there was a concern 

that vehicles and arriving guests might create too much 

noise for the occupants of the guest rooms just above. 

The present port cochere and 120-foot covered walkway 

were hastily built and the original portico closed up. 

Today it functions as the Ahwahnee Bar, located just off 

the entrance lobby (Zaitlin 1989). 

This modification of the entry creates a different 

type of arrival from the one originally planned. 

Underwood’s own watercolor rendering of the hotel before 

its completion shows that it was his original idea to provide more formal access to the building. A covered walkway made of logs and rough wood made arriving at the 

entrance lobby a more rustic experience (Zaitlin 1989). 

From the south, The Ahwahnee makes very 

different and surprising impressions. Hardly visible 

from the north side, it emerges as a massive, granite-clad 

structure that seems to both stand up to its surroundings 

and acquiesce to them. The building is set in an open 

meadow with background views of the Royal Arches, 

Glacier Point, Yosemite Point, and other major formations 

of the Valley walls. The massive, stone covered piers and 

projecting wings of the hotel give it a sculptural quality. 

The absence of an entrance and the associated traffic 

enhance this sculptural quality when viewed from the 

south, east, and west. 

The Ahwahnee bungalow group, separated from 

the hotel by Royal Arch Creek, was designed by architect 

Ted Spencer in 1928. A unique wooden bridge with 

built-in craftsman-style benches leads visitors across the 

creek to the small clapboard and shake buildings. The 

exclusion of vehicles from this heavily wooded area gives 

it an intimate, semi-private feeling distinct from that 

of the hotel. The bungalows are relatively close to one 

another but dense vegetation and the meandering slate 

pathways prevent the feeling of crowding. 

144 NPS 
� 

T HE A H WAHNEE 

Log seat with chevron pattern at 

The Ahwahnee (2004) RF 

develo p ed a rea 

The Ahwahnee is a significant example of the final 

development of Rustic architecture in Yosemite Valley. 

A response to the natural setting informs almost every 

aspect of the building’s design. While the oversized 

proportions of the building’s important elements seek 

to achieve a scale that relates to the Valley walls, the 

backdrop of massive granite walls of the Valley seems 

to diminish the building’s massive scale. 

The architect, Gilbert Stanley Underwood, created 

a building that combined contemporary building technology with the use of native materials. The six-story, 

steel frame and reinforced concrete structure is clad with 

stained, textured concrete designed to look like wood, a 

veneer of weathered granite boulders, and real logs at 

the porte cochere. While most of the building materials 

were far from rustic, their specific treatment and the 

forms into which they were molded resulted in a Rustic 

style building, regardless of its rational construction, 

massive scale, and modern techniques. Americans have 

come to expect rough hewn logs and rocks in park 

buildings (Page & Turnbull 1997). 

Understanding this sensitive expectation, 

Underwood created a building that is seemingly just 

that—logs and rocks. That it is successful is remarkable, 

given the utilization of relatively spare amounts of actual 

rustic materials. The Rustic architecture is overlain by 

the interior design, which is not rustic but a skillful 

blending of the then current Art Deco style, with 

American Indian decorative motifs. While Underwood 

was apparently the generator of the Art Deco theme, it 

was the design team of Ackerman and Pope—with the 

assistance of interior designer Jeanette Spencer—who 

succeeded in integrating the Art Deco and American 

Indian decorative arts into the hotel. It is in fact this 

form of decoration, present in all aspects of the interior, 

from the furnishings to the fixtures and fabrics, that is 

regaled today (Page & Turnbull 1997). 

The building’s massing is broken up, creating 

the sense of a rambling, organic structure that belies the 

sheer size of the facility. Large wings contain a massive 

lounge and a dining room, both of which are extraordinary spaces. The lounge has an ornate, concrete framed 

ceiling and the dining room features high, exposed 

timber trusses. 

Curry company president Don Tresidder and the 

board of the Yosemite Park & Curry Company instructed 

Underwood to design the 100 guest room structure 

(along with consideration for space for the later cottages) 

to convey the impression of a large home rather than a 

hotel. He was told to place the essential commercial 

elements such as the cashier, telephone booths, etc., in 

an unobtrusive place, preferably in a separate wing. 

Upon entering the building, guests might take notice of 

Roof overhang and balcony of concrete, made to simulate wood 

145 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

these facilities, but once past them, they would feel 

they were in a “quiet, luxurious country home” 

(Zaitlin 1989). 

The concept of a large hotel changed many times 

before the final drawings were completed. As late as 

January of 1926, the plans for the hotel provided for 

a building no higher than three stories with stone 

construction on the first floor and wood frame above. 

Eventually it was decided to build a larger structure 

providing 100 guest rooms, and several very spacious 

public areas. The dining room, originally planned for 

1,000, was scaled down to accommodate only 350 diners. 

Other significant buildings in The Ahwahnee 

developed area include eight Ahwahnee Bungalows and a 

storage building in the bungalow area. The Ahwahnee 

dormitory, built as barracks during World War II and 

converted later to employee housing, is non-contributing. 

Eleven significant structures in The Ahwahnee 

developed area include: The Ahwahnee Entrance Road 

(from gateway to parking lot), Ahwahnee Gateway Piers, 

Ahwahnee Main Parking Lot (West), Fish Pond, Bungalow 

Paths, Footbridge to Bungalow Area, Footbridge near 

Merced River, Bridletrail Ford, drainageways, Tennis 

Courts, and the Flagstone Terrace (NPS 2004d). 

GUIDELINES 

• Base any removal or replacement of vegetation on a 

thorough inventory of existing conditions, including 

the problem of pines, cedars, and sequoias crowding 

out dogwoods and oaks, encroaching into the meadow, 

and blocking historic views from the hotel. Removal 

and replacement of vegetation must not compromise 

the area’s sense of relative isolation. 

• The Ahwahnee Landscape Maintenance Plan (NPS 

1996a) indicates how best to manage the dense forested 

bungalow area while addressing fire hazard, clearing of 

dying and hazardous trees, and maintenance of an 

uneven aged plant community. 

Large scale glazed opening between porch and lounge at The Ahwahnee 

• Pathways should continue to be paved with random 

angular slate which matches the existing paths. 

• Materials, color, and scale of The Ahwahnee should be 

the reference for any new work. For example, new concrete work should be form board and stained, in the 

same character as The Ahwahnee. See The Ahwahnee 

Historic Structure Report (Page & Turnbull 1997). 

• New bungalows should continue the scale, character, 

and detail of the existing bungalow structures. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

architecture and small landscape features. 

146 NPS 

Y OSEMITE LODGE 

INTRODUCTION 149


SETTING 150


Natural Systems + Features 150


Scenic Views 151


Vegetation 152


LANDSC APE USES + STRUCTURES 153


Land Use + Spatial Organization 153


Circulation + Parking 154


Entrance Marker 155


Lighting 155


DEVELOPED AREAS 155


Public Buildings 155


Guest Lodging 159


OVERLEAF Yosemite Lodge (ca. 1960) YRL 
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D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

Y OSEMITE LODGE 

YOSEMITE LODGE is a 1950s motel complex, characterized by modern 

structural forms and modern materials like glass, concrete, and steel. It is 

located along the base of the north Valley wall, southwest of Yosemite 

Village, north of the Merced River, and immediately west of Yosemite 

Creek. The original Yosemite Lodge building was constructed in 1915, 

in response to the advice of Stephen Mather and Franklin Lane. Both 

believed that there would be a influx of visitors to the park after the completion of the Panama Canal. Increased visitation to Yosemite did occur, 

the great fall, the noblest display of falling water to be found in the valley, or 

perhaps in the world...this noble fall has far the richest, as well as the most powerful, 

voice of all the falls of the valley, its tones varying from the sharp hiss and rustle of 

the wind in the glossy leaves of the live-oaks and the soft, sifting, hushing tones of 

the pines, to the loudest rush and roar of storm winds and thunder among the crags 

of the summit peaks. JOHN MUIR • THE YOSEMITE 

but not until after World War II, making it necessary to rebuild the facility. 

Beginning in 1956, the motel and associated development was replaced 

with several new buildings. Yosemite Lodge today includes the main lodge 

(registration building), mid-scale motel units, two restaurants, a cafeteria, 

bar, gift and general merchandise store, specialty gift shop, bike rental 

shop, post office, and swimming pool. All guest lodging consists of multiunit style building construction (NPS 2004d). 

In 1996, the public facilities at the Lodge were renovated with 

the rehabilitation and extension of the Mountain Room Restaurant, a 

new Garden Court restaurant, an enlarged and renovated gift shop, and 

rest rooms. 

The Yosemite Valley Plan calls for revising the character of Yosemite 

Lodge by changing from a motel character to one more connected to a 

national park lodge experience in Yosemite Valley. It also calls for the 

removal of facilities from the River Protection Overlay and the floodplain. 

Although Yosemite Lodge is within the Yosemite Valley Historic 

District, the buildings are non-contributing. 

149 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

s etting 

NATURAL SY STEMS + FEATURES 

The Yosemite Lodge complex is located on the north 

side of Yosemite Valley between towering granite cliffs 

and the Merced River. Yosemite Lodge’s location on the 

edge of Leidig Meadow, just north of the Merced River, 

and close to Yosemite Falls gives the complex a dramatic 

setting. The most prominent natural feature at the Lodge 

is Yosemite Falls to the northeast. Further up the Valley 

to the east is Half Dome. The Lodge lies within a high 

scenic value area as identified by the Yosemite Valley Plan. 

Climate 

The Yosemite Lodge complex is set on the sunny, 

warmer side of the Valley. In the winter, the Lodge gets 

low angle direct sunshine resulting in strong solar radiation that penetrates into areas normally shaded from the 

summer sun. This effect is more pronounced in areas of 

deciduous black oaks. 

Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on climate. 

Yosemite Falls 

The most dramatic natural feature at Yosemite Lodge is 

the remarkable tree-framed view of Yosemite Falls to 

150 NPS 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

9 

11 

12 

9 

9 

14 

13 

15 

16 

1 Yosemite Lodge (meeting/bar/retail) 

2 Yosemite Lodge Food Service 

(Commons Facility) 

3 Registration 

4 Amphitheater 

5 Cedar Collage 

6 Swimming Pool 

7 Post Office 

8 Yosemite Creek Bridge 

9 Guest Lodging 

10 North Side Drive 

11 Camp 4 

12 Indian Cultural Center (proposed) 

13 Upper Yosemite Fall Trail 

14 Support Building 

15 Lower Yosemite Fall Trail 

16 Merced River 
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Y OSEMITE L ODGE 

the north. Each year, however, views of the Upper and 

Lower Falls from the Lodge are incrementally narrowed 

or obscured by these tall coniferous trees. 

GUIDELINES 

• Plant, trim, or clear trees and shrubs as appropriate to 

frame, emphasize, or open up historic views, as 

allowed under Valley-wide park resources forestry 

policies and the Comprehensive Landscape and 

Revegetation Plan (Bitterroot 1999). 

Merced River 

The setting of the Lodge complex is directly affected by 

the proximity of the Merced River and its floodplain. 

The redevelopment as called for in the Yosemite Valley 

Plan is partly in response to the damage caused by the 

flood of 1997. 

GUIDELINES 

• With the removal of flood damaged buildings south 

of Northside Drive, consider more direct pedestrian 

linkages, including pathways and interpretive waysides, from the center of the Lodge complex to the 

river’s edge. Use boardwalks over wetland zones. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

the Merced River. 

SCENIC VIEWS 

Yosemite Lodge is situated in one of the most spectacular 

scenic areas of the park. From Yosemite Lodge one can 

see a great variety of significant natural features, including 

Sentinel Rock, Union Point, Half Dome, Washington 

Column, Lost Arrow Spire, and Yosemite Falls. There 

are also important views to talus slopes and rock walls 

at the base of Columbia Rock, Eagle Tower, and Eagle 

Peak. Views which are obscured by spring growth become 

apparent when leaves are shed in the fall. Distant views 

can at times compete with close-up subjects such as trees, 

talus, and bases of cliffs. 

TOP Yosemite Falls from Yosemite Lodge BOTTOM Auto arrival at Yosemite Lodge 

(ca. 1960) YRL 

The Lodge will have a stronger visual orientation 

to Leidig Meadow when buildings within the floodplain 

are removed. The visual relationship will also be substantially strengthened with clearance of encroaching 

tree species. 

151 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

GUIDELINES 

• Plant, trim, or clear trees and shrubs as appropriate to 

frame, emphasize or open up views, as allowed under 

Valleywide park resources forestry policies. 

• Walkways, gathering areas, balconies, and public 

building windows should be oriented to optimize views 

of Yosemite Falls, Lost Arrow Spire, Half Dome, and 

Sentinel Rock. 

• The road leading to Yosemite Lodge should be aligned 

for a direct or prominent view of the registration 

building. This view should not be interrupted by 

parked cars or buses and should be flanked by broad 

swaths of meadow vegetation. 

• Leidig Meadow and the adjacent river corridor ecological restoration zone are close enough for strong view 

relationships. The path to the Swinging Bridge passes 

through this meadow area. Consider additional more 

direct path connections from the center of the complex 

to the river. 

Meadow with Washington Column and Half Dome, near Yosemite Lodge 

• Consideration should be given to creating view opportunities toward Columbia Rock, Eagle Tower, and 

Eagle Peak. 

• Identify and incorporate view alignments for each 

group of buildings. 

• Orient public open space and views from cabins 

toward the meadow. 

• Orient rooms to capture views of important 

natural features. 

VEGETATION 

The vegetation at the Yosemite Lodge site exists over 

three distinct zones: the talus slope, the developed area 

of the Lodge, and the riparian meadow. The talus and 

developed areas are dominated by a scattered pattern of 

pines and cedars, with some black oak. Leidig Meadow, 

which lies to the south of the Lodge, is one of the major 

meadows in the Valley. The meadow and its extension to 

the west underlay much of the Merced River floodplain. 

There has been significant encroachment by conifers 

into some areas of the meadow. 

GUIDELINES 

• The vegetation layout throughout these three zones at 

Yosemite Lodge should be naturalistic and subtle. 

• Mixed height shrub and tree zones adjacent to meadows 

can provide shelter and forage areas for birds, deer, 

small mammals, and other wildlife. Consistent with 

park resources goals, protect and enhance existing 

mixed vegetation zones, where appropriate, and plant 

to attract wildlife. 

• The selection of vegetation types, their layout, seed 

collection, planting, initial maintenance procedures, 

and long term vegetation management must conform 

to the Comprehensive Landscape and Revegetation 

Plan (March 1999). 

152 NPS 
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Y OSEMITE L ODGE 

Leidig Meadow (1938) YRL 

• Planted areas within the core of the developed area, 

near public buildings, should be large and separated 

from pedestrian areas by grade changes, or low timber, 

or boulder barriers. This will prevent trespassing and 

will enhance overall maintenance efficiency. Avoid 

paving patterns that result in planting areas that are 

too small to support large shrubs and trees, or that 

encourage pedestrians to wander off the paths and 

into planted areas. 

• While there has been significant encroachment by 

conifers in some of Leidig meadow, ecological restoration to full wetland vegetation will greatly enhance its 

scenic value. (See also the Yosemite Valley Plan and park 

resources policies for meadow restoration.) 

landscape uses/structures 

LAND US E + SPATIAL ORGANIZATION 

Yosemite Lodge consists of multiple building clusters 

set in groves of trees and open meadow areas. The clusters 

are organized by function and are connected by a network 

of roads, trails, and parking lots. Visitor services and 

recreational facilities are clustered in the central core of 

the Lodge complex and are flanked by large parking lots. 

The three primary visitor service buildings in the public 

core are connected by covered walkways and form an 

inner courtyard that includes an amphitheater and casual 

seating. These buildings house the registration office, two 

restaurants, a food court, bar, a conference space, and 

shops. A secondary cluster adjacent to the central core 

153 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Porch of Mountain Room Restaurant,Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH 

focuses around a swimming pool. Clusters of guest lodging 

buildings are dispersed around the perimeter of the site 

and consist of one-and two-story mid-scale motel units. 

GUIDELINES 

• Use former building sites for new work. Alternatively, 

restore these sites to the ecological conditions appropriate to surrounding native vegetation and other 

environmental conditions. 

CIRCULATION + PARKING 

There are several types of circulation at Yosemite Lodge 

serving pedestrian, vehicle, and bicycle traffic. Vehicular 

traffic is concentrated in the paved central core. A central 

paved road runs through the development. Secondary 

roads connect the central road to parking and service 

areas. Several large, paved parking lots are located in the 

vicinity of the registration office and some of the lodging 

clusters. Less formal hard-packed earth roads and small 

asphalt service roads provide vehicular access to the 

more remote Lodge facilities. 

Concrete and asphalt walkways provide pedestrian 

circulation in the vicinity of the central core. Hard-packed 

earth paths connect the central core to the more remote 

parts of the Lodge complex (Land & Community 

Associates 1994). Access from parking areas to lodging 

units is via paved walkways. 

Food court dining terrace,Yosemite Lodge (2004) SA 

According to the Yosemite Valley Plan, Yosemite 

Lodge will be one terminus of the new Valley-wide 

circulation system. 

GUIDELINES 

• Vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle pathways should be 

separated and clearly delineated. 

• Northside Drive, when realigned south of the Lodge, 

should have minimal visual impact. It should convey 

the feeling of a rural road, designed for low speeds 

with safe, marked pedestrian crossings. Design should 

minimize it as a visual and pedestrian barrier between 

the Lodge and the river. 

• Curves and alignments of roads should recognize 

straight-ahead views. The turnoff road to the Lodge 

arrival area should preserve the view of Upper 

Yosemite Fall and cliffs. 

• Turnoffs to bus or auto parking areas (both short and 

long term) should be clearly marked. However, if 

possible, parked vehicles should not be visible during 

the arrival sequence. 

• Cars and parking areas should be out of view from 

guest rooms and walkways if possible. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on circulation. 

154 NPS 
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Y OSEMITE L ODGE 

ENTRANCE MARKER 

G UIDELINES 

• The entrance marker at Yosemite Lodge should display 

the Lodge graphic symbol with low level lighting to 

announce the entrance to the complex. (See Unifying 

Elements for more guidelines on entrance markers.) 

LIGHTING 

The Lodge represents one of the larger concentrations 

of exterior nighttime lighting and fugitive light from 

buildings in the Valley. Many pedestrian areas and parking 

areas are lit by unshielded sources on building walls 

and poles. 

For guidelines on small buildings, masonry, foot bridges, 

boardwalks, culvert crossings, retaining walls, fences/benches, 

and lighting, refer to Unifying Elements. 

Courtyard,Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH 

develo p ed a reas 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS 

Siting + Building Orientation 

Guests arrive at Yosemite Lodge by way of Northside 

Drive, passing through or by the porte-cochere in front 

of the 1956 registration building. Guests park their 

vehicles in one of several small parking lots and walk 

back to the registration building. 

The existing visitor service buildings are organized 

around an informal courtyard and are linked by covered 

walkways. This is the only complex in the Valley where 

covered walkways connect visitor service buildings. In 

the center of the courtyard is an amphitheater with 

views to Yosemite Falls and Sentinel Rock. The registration building faces south. The swimming pool is adjacent 

to this central area to the east. 

GUIDELINES 

• Developing views and orientation to nearby natural 

features should be given high priority when planning 

any new work. 

• New public buildings at the Lodge should be sited to 

take advantage of important views and should have 

outdoor areas that provide interpretive opportunities. 

Visitors should be guided towards views of Yosemite 

Falls or the vistas across the meadow. (At The 

Ahwahnee, for example, guests proceed from the 

entrance gate through a series of spaces out onto a 

grand porch with its magnificent views of Half Dome 

and Glacier Point.) 

• New public facilities should not interfere with existing 

court concept, but fit into and preserve the amenity 

of the courtyard. New buildings should enhance the 

visitors experience of the area around Yosemite Lodge 

(e.g., taking advantage of views) while meeting the 

needs of the concessioner. 

155 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

TOP Lounge from Mountain Room Restaurant, Yosemite Lodge (2004) SA 

BOTTOM Mountain Room Restaurant, Yosemite Lodge (2004) SA 

• New visitor service buildings should be placed in and 

among trees at the edges of meadows, and in areas 

that have been previously developed or disturbed. 

• Guests should have access to outdoor spaces adjacent 

to buildings where they can pause, linger, and enjoy 

natural surroundings. 

• The outdoor spaces adjacent to the registration building 

should be a setting for scenic views to nearby features. 

These can also be the beginning of the walk to the 

nearby Yosemite Falls. 

Architectural Character 

The architectural character of Yosemite Lodge’s 1956-era 

buildings is the product of the Mission 66 movement, a 

dramatic departure from earlier NPS Rustic traditions. 

The one-story buildings employ a modern architectural 

vocabulary of exposed steel frames, large expanses of glass, 

and low-pitch roofs. Within Yosemite Valley, traditional 

rustic buildings are designed to make strong connections 

to the natural landscape through their use of natural 

materials. Although Yosemite Lodge lacks the rustic 

character of Curry Village and The Ahwahnee, the 

openness and transparency of the lounge buildings 

allows visitors to make a good connection with the 

natural setting. 

The 1996 rehabilitation and extension of the 

Mountain Room Restaurant employed elements of traditional Rustic design—rough-sawn timbers, cedar paneling 

left in their natural state—combined with modern 

elements such as large expanses of glass. This project 

provides continuity between the Mission 66 style and 

the more traditional Rustic park architecture. 

GUIDELINES 

• The scale and character of major public buildings 

in the Lodge facility should be inspired by its 

magnificent setting. 

• New construction at Yosemite Lodge should continue 

the transition begun with the restaurant rehabilitation 

project that recognizes the openness of the existing 

architecture and incorporates the spirit of rustic themes. 

• The scale and massing of public buildings should 

express the important spaces within and impart a 

sense of shelter. 

• Use natural materials with subdued colors that are 

inspired by the natural setting. 

Building Shape + Massing 

The existing public buildings are one-story structures 

with low-pitched gable roofs that do not compete with 

the natural setting. Each space within the complex 

156 NPS 
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Y OSEMITE L ODGE 

Porch entry to Mountain Room 

Restaurant linking cafeterias and 

restrooms (2004) GH 

provides generous interior spaces appropriate to their 

function. Within their low profile, these structures use 

roof forms that direct attention upwards towards the 

surrounding landmarks. At the gift shop, this takes the 

form of a generous clerestory; at the restaurant, there 

are skylights; at the Mountain Room, the roof extends in 

shed elements creating tall windows facing Yosemite Falls. 

GUIDELINES 

• New public buildings should be based on simple 

building forms that harmonize with the natural setting 

as well as the human-made environment. They should 

not detract from the grandeur of the cliffs and the 

waterfalls that are the prime backdrop for the Lodge. 

• New public buildings at the Lodge should continue 

the pattern of spacious, one-story structures with 

generous glazed exterior walls, and exposed structural 

framing. Variation of building height is recommended 

to create important interior spaces that make strong 

connections to the surrounding landscape elements. 

• Future planning and design should employ such 

methods which will enhance and foster a sense of 

unity for the entire complex. 

Roof Form + Materials 

The existing public buildings at Yosemite Lodge have a 

roof pitch that is considerably lower than many structures 

in the Valley. This profile gives the buildings a horizontal 

aspect that does not compete with the landscape. Asphalt 

cap sheet and asphalt shingles are used as roof coverings 

throughout the Lodge complex. 

GUIDELINES 

• Continue the use of existing roof forms to make new 

buildings compatible with existing public buildings at 

the Lodge. 

• While new work should recognize the existing roofscape, it is not constrained to continue the same low 

pitch. Depending on the program, dramatic height for 

interior spaces may be desirable, though new roof 

pitch should not be as steep as that of Cedar Cottage. 

• Provide eaves that shed snow and water away from the 

walls. Prevent snow and rain from dropping and accumulating on pedestrian walkways, as this is hazardous 

in freezing conditions. 

View of Yosemite Falls from Mountain Room Restaurant Mountain Room roof detail from courtyard, Yosemite Lodge 

157 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

• Use slightly oversized structural members to recall 

rustic character for important rooms. 

• Roof coverings should be non-reflective and dark 

colored to harmonize with the natural surroundings. 

This will minimize visual impact when viewed from 

the trails above the Valley floor. The recommended 

roof covering is asphalt shingles. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on roof 

form and materials. 

Building Exterior 

The exterior treatments at Yosemite Lodge include wood 

siding, natural colors, large window walls, over-scaled 

wood structural elements, covered walkways and porches, 

and a protected base. 

The original public buildings are clad in wood 

siding that is stained brown. Steel columns and windows 

are painted the same color. The exterior walls of the 

Mountain Room addition are resawn cedar boards finished 

with a clear stain. This treatment recalls early rustic 

buildings in the Valley that typically had redwood siding 

with a clear oil finish. 

Generous window walls on the original steel-framed 

buildings allow a strong connection between indoors 

and outdoors. Glazed doors reinforce this indooroutdoor connection. 

The existing exposed steel columns and beams 

recall the earlier tradition of exposed structural elements. 

Recent additions at the Lodge re-introduced the use 

of overscaled, resawn timbers for the interior and 

exterior framing. 

A concrete base was incorporated in the design 

of the Mountain Room addition to create a weathering 

lower wall treatment. The use of a stone base may 

recognize the importance of new buildings. 

GUIDELINES 

• Wood siding with a resawn surface is recommended as 

the predominant cladding material. 

• Appropriate finishes for wood siding include paints or 

opaque stains in colors compatible and semi-transparent 

stains or natural weathering sealers. Natural finish 

requires a higher wood grading standard for appearance. 

• Porches and eaves should be of a scale suitable for 

public assembly. The south loggia at The Ahwahnee 

is a fine example. 

• Moderately overscaled, re-sawn timbers are recommended for the main structural elements. Logs are 

not recommended. For reasons of sustainability, gluelaminated members are preferred. However, log framing 

members may be appropriate in some areas for their 

special visual or interpretive value. The use of log 

framing in Yosemite Valley has declined since its 

earlier use at Curry Village and The Ahwahnee. 

• Exposed timber framing connectors should not be 

visually distracting. The color of the painted metal 

connector plates and brackets should be harmonious 

with the wood framing members. 

View from Lounge into courtyard, Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH 

158 NPS 
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Y OSEMITE L ODGE 

• Wood detail elements such as trim boards should be 

sized to have a sturdy character. 

• New public buildings should have a defined base that 

resists deterioration and visually connects the building 

to the ground. The base should be made of concrete 

formed with rough-sawn boards. It may be appropriate 

to use a weathered granite base for important new 

structures. In this case, the granite should be used for 

adjacent landscape walls so as to connect the building 

to the land in the Rustic tradition. 

GUEST LODGING 

Siting + Building Orientation 

Traditionally, the setting for guest quarters is quiet and 

restful, providing guests the opportunity to experience 

and appreciate the natural surroundings. Guest quarters 

at Yosemite Lodge are located in clusters at some distance 

from the public buildings. Approached by pathways from 

the central public core, the buildings are sited in and 

among the trees and near the edges of meadows. 

Many of the guest quarter buildings are one and 

two stories in height, long and rectangular in shape, and 

arranged in an irregular layout, with a general tendency 

to align parallel with the Valley walls. This east-west 

orientation allows views of the Valley walls to the north 

and south. 

These buildings have defined front and rear sides, 

stairs, access balconies, and entrance doors on the front, 

and patios and decks on the rear. 

After removal of Lodge units affected by the 1997 

flood almost all the remaining and new units will be sited 

between the new alignment of Northside Drive and 

Northside Drive’s original alignment, which will become 

a multi-purpose trail and emergency vehicle route. 

GUIDELINES 

• New lodging units should, wherever possible, be placed 

among healthy trees or in areas where conifers are slated 

for removal. 

Porch entry to the Mountain Room Restaurant (2004) RF 

• Guest lodgings should be sited to take advantage of 

natural light and views. 

• Orientation of buildings for solar access may in some 

instances be adjusted for important views. 

• Continue the use of rectangular buildings with an 

east-west orientation as a unifying characteristic for 

site organization. 

• The clustering of smaller guest quarters has greater 

flexibility in adapting to landscape elements such as 

trees and boulders. Informal groupings allow the 

buildings to fit more naturally into the landscape. 

It is important to determine the capacity of the site 

so as not to tax the natural setting. See also National 

Park Service site carrying capacity studies by Frissell 

et al., 1979. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements, Siting and Building 

Orientation for more guidelines on building orientation 

and sound. 

159 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Architectural Character 

The overall architectural character of the guest quarters 

at Yosemite Lodge reflects the Bay Area style of the 

1940s to 1960s. This regional design was widely used 

during the period of their construction. Like Mission 66 

public buildings, the guest quarters departed from the 

traditional Rustic style. The features that link these 

buildings to other developments in Yosemite Valley 

include the use of simple rectangular plan forms with 

gable roofs, wood siding in simple patterns, and paint 

and stain colors of dark umber. 

New development presents the opportunity to 

reinterpret Rustic design principles and yet express and 

use contemporary materials and techniques. 

GUIDELINES 

• The architectural character of the guest quarters should 

be modest, restful, and welcoming to the visitor. The 

expression of shelter should be enhanced by generous 

roof overhangs, porches, verandahs, and private outdoor spaces. 

• New development should create a sense of identity for 

the guest quarter buildings by using design themes 

that interpret the unique history and physical setting 

of the site. 

Cedar Cottage, built 1955, with Upper Yosemite Fall (2004) RF 

• Use of natural materials can contribute rustic character to the guest quarter buildings and promote visitor 

appreciation of appropriate park architecture. 

Building Shape + Massing 

Guest quarters at Yosemite Lodge are simple one- and 

two-story buildings that maintain a consistent scale 

throughout the development. Most of the buildings 

have rectangular plans with gable roofs. Each guest room 

at the Lodge provides access to the outdoors by way of 

a balcony or patio. 

Balconies and patios require the proper degree of 

privacy to make guests comfortable. The Sentinel and 

Wawona Hotels provide historic examples of generous 

two-story balconies providing access to guest rooms, a 

place to enjoy the outdoors, and a buffer between public 

and private spaces. Wide enough to accommodate sitting 

and socializing, the balcony’s proportions and details 

created a dignified character. (Although the Sentinel 

Hotel is no longer extant, it is a relevant reference for 

new Yosemite Lodge buildings.) 

The roof can control the massing of the building 

by extending beyond the plan, encompassing bays. For 

instance, the main roof of the Tecoya dorms buildings 

extends over the projecting bays at the gable ends, and 

thus maintains the overall building form. A simple 

massing can also be preserved when stairs and elevators 

are recessed into the main volume and/or covered by 

the main roof. 

The historic Cascades Cabins (now removed) are 

another reference for new guest quarter buildings. They 

had a refined simplicity of shape and massing. Gable 

roofs defined main volumes, and the roof slope was kept 

intact as it descended over the projecting bays. 

GUIDELINES 

• Small cabins should have the simplest possible form. 

• Larger, two-story buildings should use plan forms that 

generate simple building mass. Use extensions of the 

main roof to add extensions to the main rectangular 

160 NPS 
� 

Y OSEMITE L ODGE 

Early Yosemite Lodge bungalows with jerkinhead roofs (1926) YRL 

plan form—sheds on the long sides and gabled bays 

at the ends. 

• Stairs and elevators should be recessed within the 

mass of the building to provide weather protection 

and to maintain the simple overall building mass. 

• Guest rooms should have outdoor seating areas such as 

covered porches, patios, or balconies. 

• Balcony design should be inspired by historical examples such as the Sentinel and Wawona Hotels. Where 

balconies are also used for access to guest rooms, they 

should be wide enough to accommodate seating as well. 

• Edge treatments of patios and balconies should establish visual privacy for both guests in their rooms and 

the passersby. Low walls, built-in benches, and balcony 

railings should be used to screen furniture and guest 

clutter. Tall screens should be avoided except where 

they can help reinforce desirable definition of open 

space. Refer to Unifying Guidelines for more guidelines on fences and benches. 

Roof Form Materials 

The guest quarter buildings have gable roofs of very 

low to medium pitch, similar to the roofs of the public 

buildings in the visitor service core. The roof pitch of 

Cedar Cottage, however, is steeper and more consistent 

with the character of other buildings in the Valley of 

similar size. 

Roof forms at entrances protect visitors from 

inclement weather. The gable is a traditional form 

that indicates the entrance to the building, while 

affording protection. 

Exposed roof framing is typical at the Lodge and 

throughout the Valley. Roof covering of existing guest 

quarter buildings is typically asphalt shingles. 

GUIDELINES 

• Use simple gables as the dominant element with the 

ridge parallel to the long axis of the plan. 

• Continue use of medium roof pitches in the range of 

5 in 12. 

• Gable roof porches over entrances are recommended. 

• Shed dormers are recommended rather than gable 

dormers because they minimize snow accumulation on 

their sidewalls. 

• To maintain the plane of a dominant roof, there 

should be at least four horizontal feet between the 

edge of the dormer and the edge of the roof. 

• Roofs should use relatively dark and non-reflective, 

colored coverings in order to harmonize with the 

surroundings, both when viewed from the adjacent 

ground and from trails above the Valley floor. 

• Asphalt shingle is the recommended roof 

covering material. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

roof form and materials, in particular generous roof 

overhangs, exposed roof framing and sheathing, and 

modestly overscaled elements. 

Building Exterior 

Guest quarter buildings are generally more modest than 

public buildings, serving as quiet backdrops for guests’ 

enjoyment of the park. At the Lodge, guest quarters are 

clad with wood siding with varied patterns and rough 

textures. The color is predominately dark brown, consistent with colors used throughout the Valley. Cedar 

Cottage, adjacent to the public center, is an example of 

recommended treatment for new guest quarter exteriors. 

It has a simple combination of horizontal and vertical 

wood siding and is painted a dark raw umber. 

161 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Doors and windows are arranged in regular patterns 

on existing guest quarter buildings. Porches and balconies 

complement the façade when they are designed using the 

same materials and details. Partial screening is advised in 

order to screen visual clutter sometimes caused by patio 

furniture and personal effects. 

GUIDELINES 

• Façades of new buildings should be restrained in character, blending with the background and not competing 

with the natural surroundings. 

• Make use of Valleywide Unifying Elements such as 

protected base, wood siding, and windows arranged in 

simple patterns, overscaled details, and use of color. 

• Windows should be generous enough to provide enjoyment of views, let adequate natural light to the interior, 

and allow natural ventilation. Recessed, metal-clad 

wood windows are recommended. 

• For one-story buildings, a single siding material is 

recommended. However, varying patterns may be used 

at gable ends for textural or visual interest. 

• For two-story buildings, walls may be designed with 

different complementary siding patterns at each story. 

Where materials change, provide a slight offset or a 

water table trim. 

• Colors and textures should be appropriate to the natural 

setting. In a large complex of dispersed buildings, 

color may be used to unify the development and provide 

a sense of identity. Groups of buildings may be given 

slight variations from a primary theme. The color 

scheme of new guest lodging should relate to other 

buildings in the complex, both new and existing. The 

raw umber color of Cedar Cottage is recommended 

for new guest quarters. Slight variation of the same 

hue may give identity to housing clusters within 

the complex. Refer to Unifying Elements for more 

guidelines on color. 

Early view of Yosemite Lodge Lounge and Meeting Room (ca. 1960) YRL 

162 NPS 

C AMP AREAS 

INTRODUCTION 165


C AMPGROUNDS 166


Setting 167


Developed Areas 167


C AMP 4 169


Setting 169


Developed Area 170


HOUSEKEEPING C AMP 172


Setting 172


Developed Area 174


OVERLEAF Merced River Beach (date unknown) YRL-RA 
� 

D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

C AMP AREAS 

CAMPGROUNDS and Housekeeping Camp provide overnight visitors to 

Yosemite Valley opportunities for a more rustic outdoor experience. 

These relatively less expensive accommodations are generally located in 

quiet forested settings in close proximity to the banks and beaches of the 

Merced River. Their locations provide convenient access to scenic landmarks and are linked by shuttle bus and walkways to day-use destinations 

and visitor services. Campsites in the Valley are among the most popular 

in the National Park System, with reservations for sites during peak season 

filling up months in advance. Many families return year after year to the 

same campground or Housekeeping Camp, perpetuating a cherished tradition. Camp 4, also known as Sunnyside Camp, is closely associated with 

the boulders and talus slopes below the cliffs of the Valley’s north wall 

and is most popular with rock climbers. 

(it was) bully! i’ve had the time of my life...just think of where i was last night. up 

there amid the pines and silver firs, in the sierran solitude, and without a tent, i 

passed one of the most pleasant nights of my life. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ON HIS EXPERIENCE IN 

YOSEMITE WITH JOHN MUIR 

Recognizing that the overnight camping experience could be 

enhanced with improved facilities, plans are underway to rehabilitate the 

campgrounds and provide additional campsites, primarily walk-in sites. 

Existing campgrounds will also be reconfigured to offer different campsite 

types to a range of visitors—from those arriving with two-person tents to 

those driving state-of-the-art recreational vehicles with utility hookups. 

New communal comfort stations and individual site furnishings (including 

picnic table, fire ring, bear proof food locker, and tent pad) are proposed. 

To preserve and protect the fragile banks of the Merced River and respect 

the floodplain, the campsites at the campgrounds and Housekeeping Camp 

will be moved further away from the river edge. 

165 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

C AMPGR OUNDS 

Campgrounds in Yosemite Valley provide the basic level 

of overnight accommodations for visitors. The sites 

include Lower Pines, Upper Pines, North Pines, and 

the future walk-in camp east of Curry Village. Camp 4 

is treated separately within this chapter. 

Several building types support visitor functions in 

campgrounds. These include entrance kiosks, comfort 

stations, showerhouses, and sheds for storage, lockers, 

vending, and other uses. Site elements include a vehicle 

access road, parking areas, pathways, individual campsites, and equipment such as bench-tables, food lockers, 

fire pits, grills, and trash receptacles. 

For more information about Camp 4, Upper Pines, 

Lower Pines, and North Pines Campgrounds consult the 

National Register Nomination for the Yosemite Valley 

Historic District and Cultural Landscape Report for 

Yosemite Valley. As a requirement of the Yosemite Valley 

Plan, a new walk-in campground will be part of the 

improvements at Curry Village. 

Lower Pines Campground (2004) RF 

166 NPS 
� 

C AMP A REAS 

s etting 

The Upper, Lower, and North Pines campgrounds all lie 

on the flat, forested Valley floor north of Curry Village 

and Glacier Point. The forest around the Upper Pines 

and the proposed walk-in campgrounds are somewhat 

open providing scenic views. While Lower and North 

Pines campgrounds are adjacent to areas of historically 

high scenic value, they are dominated by pines and 

cedars which obstruct views from the campgrounds. 

Portions of Lower and North Pines and 

Housekeeping Camp lie within the River Protection 

Overlay, with the latter two largely within the 100-year 

flood zone. Local views to the Merced River from sections of Housekeeping Camp, Lower and North Pines 

campgrounds are very attractive, drawing significant 

numbers of campers to the water’s edge. This has resulted 

in damage to or elimination of substantial reaches of 

riparian vegetation. Portions of Upper and Lower Pines 

and the proposed walk-in campgrounds were inundated 

by flood waters in 1997. 

New trails and two new bridges over a creek tributary to the Merced River will be required to access the 

proposed walk-in campgrounds. While there are views of 

some surrounding walls and peaks from Upper Pines (e.g., 

to Half Dome), those from remaining campgrounds (many 

of them documented in the past by artists and photographers) may be limited or obscured by forest vegetation. 

According to the Yosemite Valley Plan, a campground 

at Tenaya Creek will be partially within the talus shadow 

line, the probable furthest extent of individual rocks 

beyond the talus line. This area was flooded in 1997. 

Much of this campground is considered a highly valued 

scenic resource and was chosen by eminent early photographers and painters for its scenic views. It is served by 

an important existing multi-use paved trail, connecting 

The Ahwahnee, Mirror Lake, and Tenaya Canyon. 

The proposed group campground, to be known as 

South Camp, directly adjacent to Happy Isles Loop 

Road, is one of the shadier and cooler sites in the Valley. 

Lower Pines Campground (2004) RF 

Like Curry Village, it is sited at the base and slightly to 

the east of Glacier Point, largely out of the talus and 

rockfall zones. (South Camp may be cooler than Curry 

Village, due to the north-east orientation of portions of 

the base of Glacier Point.) It is served by the Happy 

Isles Loop Road and is adjacent to a highly valued 

resource area, according to the Yosemite Valley Plan. 

develo p ed a reas 

Small buildings and support structures collectively 

define the architectural character of a campground. 

Entrance kiosks, comfort stations, shelters, and other 

structures can share a set of typical features and details, 

so that a consistent character is present throughout the 

campground. They are traditionally designed to blend 

with their surroundings and embody a rustic character. 

The entrance kiosk is the first building seen 

upon entering a campground. It serves as a symbolic 

marker, welcoming the visitor. The kiosk also serves as 

a contact point for guests by providing camping and 

park information. 

Nine comfort stations were constructed in the 

public campgrounds during the 1920s. These were 

simple rustic wood-frame buildings with shake-covered, 

gable roofs. 

Albert Good’s Park and Recreation Structures provides 

relevant historical examples of small buildings such as 

shelters as well as landscape structures such as picnic 

tables that may serve as references for campground design 

(Good 1938). It is recommended that new development 

167 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

have a contemporary character that makes use of traditional rustic design principles. 

The relationship of the elements of the campground 

to the natural setting is a primary factor in establishing 

a sense of place. Special care must be taken when organizing the various elements: entrance road, entrance 

kiosk, parking, access roads, campsites, pathways, and 

common facilities. Small buildings, such as entrance 

kiosks, comfort stations, showerhouses, shelters, vending 

machine and storage shelters should be rustic in character. 

Individual campsites should be arranged to provide for 

both privacy and views where possible. 

GUIDELINES 

The guidelines for small buildings and landscape elements 

in Unifying Elements and Guidelines address issues 

that pertain to campgrounds. The following guidelines 

provide additional recommendations that are specific 

to campgrounds. 

Siting + Building Orientation 

• Where the site offers the opportunity, locate and orient 

buildings, gathering spaces, and interpretive points to 

benefit from views of the Valley’s natural features. 

• Group support structures and equipment, such as 

storage and trash bins, and telephone booths, in 

screened areas adjacent to other structures or in small 

buildings such as shower houses and comfort stations. 

Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

small buildings. 

• At walk-in campgrounds, screen parking areas by location and, where appropriate, with screen planting in 

accordance with Valleywide goals and the Comprehensive 

Landscape and Revegetation Plan for Yosemite Lodge. 

Entrance Kiosks 

• Kiosks should be placed at the entrance to serve as the 

point of contact between the National Park Service 

and the visitor. 

Registration kiosk, Camp 4 

(2003) GH 

Comfort Stations 

• See Albert Good Park and Recreation Structures for 

character and design references. 

• For new comfort stations, use the new Yosemite Falls 

comfort station as a reference for its rusticated base 

and side walls of board and batten. Other references 

include proposed comfort station designs for Camp 4 

and Upper Pines campgrounds. Roof covering for new 

comfort stations can be shakes or incombustible roofing 

depending on review by the fire marshal. Maintenance 

concepts for comfort stations, such as the use of a 

plumbing corridor and space for storage of equipment 

and supplies, should be employed. The design of these 

buildings requires close coordination with maintenance 

staff. Refer to the Unifying Elements for more guidelines on lighting. 

Cooking Shelters 

• Cooking shelters should be open, rectangular, timber 

structures. The recommended structural system uses 

log columns, roof framing members of saw-sized lumber, 

and low masonry walls. 

• The fireplace is an opportunity for masonry construction. Grill and sink areas should have concrete countertops with masonry sidewalls. The shelter floor 

should be of concrete with a warm color admixture to 

avoid contrast with the natural surroundings. 

• If the shelter is electrified, light fixtures should be 

shielded with a sharp cut-off in order to confine the 

light within the structure. Electrical conduit should be 

concealed in the roof assembly to the extent possible. 

Refer to the Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on lighting. 

Bench-tables 

• Use stoutly constructed timber bench-tables in keeping 

with classic National Park Service Rustic design. Some 

wheelchair-accessible units will be required. 

168 NPS 
� 

C AMP A REAS 

C AMP 4 

Camp 4, also known as Sunnyside Campground, is listed 

in the National Register of Historic Places for its significant association with the growth of rock climbing in 

Yosemite Valley during the golden years of pioneer 

mountaineering, from 1947 to 1970. The area served as a 

place for training, ascent planning, and information and 

equipment exchange (NPS 1977a). Campgrounds and 

base camps at important climbing locations provide more 

than just the provision of overnight accommodations. 

Camp 4 provides a place where the comradeship and 

esprit-de-corps that defined the early days and history of 

the movement carries on into the present (NPS 2001a). 

s etting 

Camp 4 is located at the base of a talus slope on the 

sunny north side of Yosemite Valley near El Capitan. 

Located at the base of Eagle Peak, the site lies on young 

colluvium between the vertical cliffs to the north and 

Northside Drive to the south. 

Sentinel Rock from Camp 4 with Big Columbine and Little Columbine in the foreground 

169 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Because of thin soils, the influence of vegetation 

on the sloping site is minimal and many trees are stunted 

compared to those on the Valley floor. To the south, one 

looks out toward a sparse cover of scattered pines and 

cedars with some black oak. Prominent natural features 

on site include large talus blocks and significant seasonal 

drainages currently denuded of riparian vegetation. Views 

across the Valley to Sentinel Rock provide connection to 

the majesty of the Valley walls. 

develo p ed a rea 

As a walk-in campground, Camp 4 is different from 

drive-to sites. The Camp 4 campsites have an austere 

natural setting, and the parking area has more visual 

impact. The campground is at the base of the cliffs, 

providing ready access for climbers. 

Within and at the north edge of Camp 4, large 

scattered talus blocks and boulders are evidence of the 

rockfall hazard. Some of these blocks are associated with 

Camp 4 with Big Columbine Rock in background (2004) RF 

170 NPS 
� 

C AMP A REAS 

the historic significance of the site since they were 

named and used for practice climbs during the growth of 

the sport of “Big Wall Climbing” in the United States. 

Even though the designation of Camp 4 as a historic site 

does not identify specific physical features as historically 

significant, these features have an integral relationship 

with the site and with the historic climbing community. 

New development at Camp 4 is called for in the 

Yosemite Valley Plan and is currently part of the Yosemite 

Lodge redevelopment area. New buildings in Camp 4 

will include an entrance kiosk, comfort stations, and a 

cooking shelter. The entrance kiosk will be an adaptively 

reused pre-flood cabin from Yosemite Lodge. 

GUIDELINES 

Site Design 

• Development in the Camp 4 area must occur in relation to the line of the rockfall zone as prescribed in 

the Yosemite Valley Plan. 

• Orient buildings, gathering spaces, and interpretive 

sites to views of the adjacent climbing walls, as well as 

to the more distant natural features in the Valley. 

• Arrange campsites around central open spaces or 

natural features in a way that fosters the camaraderie 

that the climbers associate with the campground. 

• Locate and design gathering spaces and interpretive 

elements in appropriate relationships to landmarks like 

Columbia, Pratt, Kor, and Wine boulders. Interpretation 

should recognize the historic importance of these 

boulders. 

• Locate the cooking shelter so it does not intrude upon 

the historic character of the boulder field (NPS 2001a). 

Circulation + Parking 

• Paved paths should be limited to those necessary 

for high intensity pedestrian use, accessibility, and 

emergency purposes. 

• Informal unpaved paths of compacted Sierra decomposed granite should link campsites with high-use 

facilities such as comfort stations and the cooking 

Building proposed for adaptive reuse as Camp 4 Registration Station (2004) RF 

shelter. Paths in close proximity to high pedestrian use 

facilities, such as restrooms and shower buildings, may 

be hard paved in a manner that blends with the surrounding soil. Surface-treated asphalt is an option. 

• Trail connections to the Valley Loop and Upper 

Yosemite Fall trails should follow historic alignments. 

• The access road in Camp 4 should be designed for 

very low speeds, allowing for safe pedestrian crossings. 

The character of the road should be rural, flush with 

surrounding grade, and curve gently around trees, 

boulders, or subtle grade changes, consistent with 

safety standards. 

• Parked vehicles should not be prominently visible from 

the central Camp 4 gathering space. Refer to Unifying 

Elements for more guidelines on parking. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements, Circulation for more 

guidelines on pedestrian paths and trails. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements, Grading and Drainage for 

more guidelines on paving materials in relation to 

minimization of runoff impacts. 

171 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Cabins at Housekeeping Camp 

Landscape Elements 

• Avoid any grading that could adversely affect the 

natural slope of the Camp 4 site. Refer to Unifying 

Elements for more guidelines on grading and drainage. 

• Cluster minor structures and equipment such as storage bins, telephone booths, etc. in screened areas or 

roofed structures at locations in conformance with the 

historic designation. Screening can be accomplished 

with planting and/or boulder-clusters following the 

patterns of existing ground form and existing vegetation (Land and Community Associates 1994). 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on


views, lighting, and benches.


Buildings 

• New buildings in Camp 4 should be compatible with


the character of the buildings at the proposed Indian


Cultural Center and Yosemite Lodge, given their 


proximity and similar setting.


• The adaptive reuse of the pre-flood cabin should 

retain the jerkinhead roof feature. There should be a 

protected porch for announcements and a half door to 

facilitate registration transactions. 

• Color for all structures should follow the recommendations for small buildings in the Unifying Elements 

and Guidelines. 

NPS 

HOUSEKEEPING C AMP 

Housekeeping Camp was originally established as an 

automobile camp around 1920. It subsequently became 

Curry Housekeeping Camp and was reserved for housekeeping facilities and equipment rental for those who 

wished to have a camping experience without all of the 

required gear. It was substantially damaged by a flood 

in 1937 (Land and Community Associates 1994). The 

present housekeeping units were designed by Spencer, 

Lee, and Busse and were built in the early 1960s. Over 

the years this facility has become a popular visitor 

facility. Groups return on a yearly basis, vying for 

riverfront campsites. 

Although Housekeeping Camp is within the 

Yosemite Valley Historic District, it is not contributing. 

s etting 

Housekeeping Camp is the only remaining settlement in 

Yosemite Valley located on the river’s edge, thus offering 

a unique experience for campers. It lies adjacent to a 

reverse bend in the Merced River, within the 100 year 

floodplain and the River Protection Overlay. The breakaway channels through the second bend in the river 

suggest that the course of the river will continue to 

change, and will potentially affect the campsite. 

According to the Merced Wild and Scenic River 

Comprehensive Management Plan, the portion of the river at 

Housekeeping Camp is within a segment that exhibits 

Outstanding Remarkable Values including scientific, 

scenic, geological, recreational, biological, cultural, and 

hydrologic. These, per the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers 

Act, must be protected and enhanced. Because of the 

potential for further bank cutting and National Park 

Service re-establishment of riparian vegetation, some 

camp structures are planned for removal according to 

the Yosemite Valley Plan. These changes will alter the 

visual and physical relationship of visitors to the river. 

172 
� 

C AMP A REAS 

A new ecological restoration area will be created along 

the river’s edge to protect and enhance the sensitive 

riparian community. 

While there are dramatic views from riverbanks 

and the footbridge, there is dense tree cover in the 

campground. As in much of the Valley, incense-cedar 

and pine are crowding and shading out the remaining 

California black oaks and blocking long views. Riparian 

vegetation along the river’s banks has been severely 

damaged and in some areas eliminated by trampling of 

campers. Dramatic views from the river’s banks are an 

attraction as are views from Housekeeping Bridge. 

According to the Yosemite Valley Plan, Housekeeping 

Camp also lies between the base of the talus line and the 

shadowline, the furthest extent of individual rocks 

beyond the talus line. 

Southside Drive is adjacent to Housekeeping Camp 

and serves as the only vehicle access. LeConte Memorial 

Lodge is nearby across Southside Drive to the south. 

Cabin on the river, Housekeeping Camp (2004) GH 

173 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

develo p ed a rea 

The public buildings in Housekeeping Camp are clustered at the entrance and accessed by asphalt walkways. 

They include the general store, the laundry, the shower 

facility, and comfort stations. These buildings are all 

simple forms, varying in size, and finished in a muted 

brown color, making them relatively inconspicuous. 

Within the campground, the comfort stations are similar 

in character. 

Cars arriving from Southside Drive park outside 

the camping area, next to the general store. Circulation 

within Housekeeping Camp is informally defined by 

crushed granite walkways. The main pedestrian path 

passes through a small central outdoor space between 

the general store and the laundry. Housekeeping Bridge 

provides access to the opposite side of the river, now a 

restored natural area on the site of the former Lower 

River Campground. 

Housekeeping Camp has a consistent character 

unified by a single type of structure for the campsites, 

which provide a unique form of accommodation. Neither 

tent nor cabin, the structures consist of duplex units 

built back-to-back. The dividing walls and side walls are 

tilt-up concrete slabs with an interesting texture—the 

Cabin with sapling screen, Housekeeping Camp (2004) GH 

result of burlap fabric that lined the concrete formwork. 

The ceiling, front walls, and side walls are made of canvas. Each unit has a sleeping area furnished with beds, 

chest of drawers, mirror, electric outlet, and light. The 

patio-kitchen is furnished with a permanently fixed round 

table, chairs, stove, cooler, cupboards, and work bench. 

Protected by a nylon fly ceiling and a sapling wall, the 

kitchen is out-of-doors but private. These innovative units 

were designed to provide more comfort, convenience, 

and privacy for guests than found in tents or tent cabins. 

They are also simpler to erect, dismantle, and maintain. 

GUIDELINES 

• Siting of units and facilities at Housekeeping Camp 

must be in accordance with the River Protection 

Overlay as prescribed by the Merced Wild and Scenic 

River Comprehensive Management Plan. 

• New development within Housekeeping Camp should 

continue the original, innovative design intent. 

• Design of new public buildings should acknowledge 

the existing architectural character of Housekeeping 

Camp. Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on the architectural character of public buildings. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

vegetation, circulation, land use, views, bridges, 

culverts, boardwalks, grading and drainage, benches, 

fences, screens, barriers, and lighting. 

174 NPS 

D A Y -USE + TRANSIT AREAS


INTRODUCTION 177


DAY-USE AREAS 178


INDIAN CULTURAL CENTER 180


LECONTE MEMORIAL LODGE 183


HAPPY ISLES 186


SHUTTLE BUS STOPS 190


OVERLEAF Lower Yosemite Fall (1967) YRL-EM 
� 

D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE 

D A Y -USE + TRANSIT AREAS 

DAY-USE and transit areas serve the largest single group of visitors to 

Yosemite Valley. During the peak visitation season approximately two-thirds 

of the visitors are day users, compared to the approximately one-third of 

visitors staying overnight. And large numbers of these visitors make their 

way to several popular day-use destinations by way of the Valley shuttle 

bus system, one of the busiest transit systems in the nation in terms of bus 

ridership. Both day-use and transit areas are characterized by transitory 

visitor use. Visitors are at the shuttle bus stops only long enough to board 

and deboard buses and read any nearby orientation maps or exhibits. 

Improvements are currently underway at several of these areas with 

the goal of establishing consistent design character and quality for future 

work. The majority of shuttle bus stops are being redesigned to integrate 

sitework into their surroundings. Details include a consistent system of 

talk of immortality! after a whole day in the woods, we are already 

immortal. when is the end of such a day? JOHN MUIR 

site furnishings such as benches, fencing, information signage, and lighting. 

Rustic gabled shuttle bus shelters are constructed of wood timbers and 

logs. (The detailing of several of these shelters relates stylistically to 

nearby structures.) 

An example is the recently completed improvement project at the 

Lower Yosemite Fall, the most highly visited natural feature in the entire 

park and the first major visitor facility improvement project to be implemented after approval of the Yosemite Valley Plan. Lower Yosemite Fall visitor 

area serves as a contemporary model of sensitive Rustic design, featuring 

a consistency of detailing and character throughout the site including 

extensive use of granite and wood, a scale appropriate to the setting, and 

bridges and buildings that reference historic antecedents. 

177 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

D A Y -USE AREAS 

Day-use areas consist of a variety of spaces, such as 

scenic viewpoints, interpretive waysides, picnic areas, 

beaches, and trailheads. These areas support short-term 

or occasional visitor use with small buildings and landscape structures like picnic tables or interpretive panels. 

In some cases historic structures constitute day-use 

areas, such as the Yosemite Valley Chapel. 

Day-use areas in Yosemite Valley include but are 

not limited to: 

Bridalveil Fall Swinging Bridge Picnic Area 

Yosemite Falls Sentinel Beach Picnic Area 

Yosemite Valley Chapel Cathedral Beach Picnic Area 

Fern Spring El Capitan Meadow 

Roadside viewing points Mirror Lake 

setting / developed areas 

Many day-use areas—including picnic areas at Sentinel 

and Cathedral beaches—lie on the flat Valley floor, well 

within the 100-year floodplain. Often dominated by 

unevenly spaced conifers, these sites are close to meadows 

that provide views of the Valley walls and waterfalls. 

Other areas—including the base of Lower Yosemite Fall 

or trailheads leading to the high country—sit at the 

edges of the Valley floor, at the toe of rockslides or 

stream depositions. Many of these are within the talus 

and shadow lines. Large boulders, talus blocks, and 

adjacent Valley walls provide evidence of the dynamic 

geologic processes at work in Yosemite Valley. The 

vegetation mosaic is more patchy in these areas. 

Yosemite Valley Chapel 

178 NPS 
� 

DA Y - U SE A REAS 

Day-use areas are typically located in a natural 

setting such as a meadow or riverbank, where visitors 

are tempted to explore the immediate surroundings. 

This can have an impact on vegetation and other natural 

elements where pathways are not provided. In many 

locations, some form of barrier is needed to define or 

limit the extent of the pathways and activity spaces 

within the day-use area. 

Because day-use areas are often at the edge of 

undeveloped areas, it is particularly important that 

human-made structures blend with the landscape. This 

can be achieved by minimizing interventions to the 

landscape and arranging site developments in a sensitive 

manner. Overall consistency of character is also desirable. 

Many day-use areas provide parking. These parking 

areas are adjacent to main roads and therefore highly 

visible. In some cases, the parking area is immediately 

adjacent to the point of interest, creating a distraction 

with its expanse of pavement and road noise. In others, a 

pathway connects to a more remote location. Pathways 

are therefore important elements that establish character 

for the site. 

Facilities such as picnic areas offer visitors an opportunity to enjoy scenic vistas. The specific character of the 

day-use site, and the accommodations provided, affect 

the visitor’s choice to stop and use the site. Some visitors 

seek conveniently located restrooms and picnic tables, 

while others prefer a quiet retreat in natural surroundings. 

At the Lower Yosemite Fall day-use area, great 

care was taken to design a positive visitor experience 

around natural features such as the waterfall, large 

boulders, trees, and drainages. The area was designed 

to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic, disperse 

visitors throughout the site, and provide enough space 

at popular viewing areas. Special attention was paid to 

wayfinding, interpretive displays, and seating areas. 

GUIDELINES 

• The natural setting of day-use areas should be preserved 

to the fullest extent possible. The extent of impact by 

visitors should be controlled by barriers when required. 

• Reduce the number of different types of benches, 

barriers, fences, etc. in day-use areas so as to lessen 

human-made visual complexity. This will also unify 

the character of day-use areas throughout the Valley. 

• Replace aging, variously designed and sourced landscape elements with simple rustic-style elements of a 

consistent style throughout the Valley to lessen the 

visual imposition of human impacts, past and present. 

• When considering the design of new areas or renovations to existing areas, examine the layout of vehicular 

circulation, parking, and related pedestrian routes, as 

well as the placement and design of small buildings 

and landscape elements (benches, signs, barriers, trash 

and recycling containers, etc.). This can provide useful 

information and background to guide the location and 

design of new work. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for guidelines on vegetation, circulation, parking, views, entrance markers, 

small buildings, bridges, culvert crossings, boardwalks, 

retaining walls, grading and drainage, benches, fences 

and screens, barriers, pathways, and lighting. 

179 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

INDIAN CUL TURAL CENTER 

An Indian Cultural Center will be established by the 

American Indian Council of Mariposa County, Inc. 

(Southern Sierra Miwuk) at the site of the last-occupied 

Indian village in Yosemite Valley, west of Camp 4. This 

center will provide a location for culturally associated 

Indian people to conduct traditional ceremonies, and to 

practice and teach techniques of traditional lifeways. 

While the center will be open to the public, access may 

be limited during special ceremonies. Some public interpretation will occur, but this cultural center would not 

replace the primary educational function of the current 

Indian Village of the Ahwahnee at Yosemite Village. 

Concurrent with this plan for the Indian Cultural 

Center, planning for redevelopment of Yosemite Lodge 

and Camp 4 is in progress. This parallel planning allows 

the parts to be planned so that they work together as a 

whole (Royston et al. 2002). 

Umachas, Indian Cultural Center 

s etting 

The Indian Cultural Center sits at the base of a talus 

slope below Middle Brother peak on the north side of 

Yosemite Valley. Leidig Meadow is nearby to the south 

across Northside Drive. Part of the area is within the 

rockfall zone and several of the Center’s important components (round house, sweat lodge, and bark houses) 

will be sited in relation to massive boulders. Some of 

these are pounding rocks (Royston et al. 2002). 

The gently sloping site supports an open forest of 

relatively even-aged pines and cedars which appear to 

be shading out the few remaining California black oak 

trees. Even though undergrowth is very limited, there 

are no views to prominent scenic features. A significant 

swale at the east edge of the area, separating it from the 

cluster of search and rescue tent cabins in Camp 4, 

suggests significant seasonal drainage. The cluster of 

search and rescue tent cabins in Camp 4 will be relocated 

further east to provide a wider buffer zone. 

develo p ed a rea 

Facilities at the Indian Cultural Center are clustered 

into two groups: traditional village structures and modern 

facilities. The traditional structures, which will be built 

by tribal members, include a large, partly subterranean 

ceremonial roundhouse, a smaller sweat lodge, and 

approximately 15 cedar bark umachas (conical shelters). 

Plants important for food, basketry, and medicinal uses 

may be grown in the vicinity of the traditional structures. Existing archeological features, such as mortar 

rocks, would remain in place and be incorporated into 

the village design. 

New modern facilities include the Wilson Cabin, 

a Community Center, and three shade structures. The 

Wilson Cabin, formerly the home of Westly and Alice 

180 NPS 
� 

I NDIAN C U L TURAL C ENTER 

Wilson, is the last extant structure from the original 

Indian village. It is currently being used as a National 

Park Service office in Yosemite Village and will be 

moved back to the village and adaptively reused. The 

Community Center is a new structure with a large 

meeting room for community events. A kitchen provides 

a large working area for food preparation and scullery 

functions. Extensive bathrooms and dressing rooms 

serve both for ceremonial functions and for the public. 

A manager’s office and storage complete the building 

program. Utilities including water, sewer, propane, 

unimproved road access, and electrical service will be 

provided to the site. Screening will be established where 

necessary to visually separate the cultural center and 

Northside Drive, Yosemite Lodge, Camp 4, and the Valley 

Loop Trail. The Valley Loop Trail may be relocated to a 

route south of the cultural center to minimize intrusions. 

Only limited parking will be available at this location, 

complying with the accessibility standards and allowing 

for deliveries. 

GUIDELINES 

Site Design 

• Locate new structures on the relatively flat site away 

from the drainage swale. This will minimize the 

amount of grading and ground disturbance. The 

health and remaining lifespan of oaks in the area 

should be assessed when making siting decisions. 

• Utility structures such as trash enclosures and 

propane tanks, while accessible by service vehicles, 

should be screened from the arrival sequence and 

public gathering areas. 

• The approach drive should take into consideration the 

eventual conversion of the adjacent segment of 

Northside Drive to a multi-use paved trail, also called 

for in the Yosemite Valley Plan. The approach drive 

should meander, relating to topography, trees, and 

boulders, while also accommodating the requirements 

of emergency vehicles. 

TOP Lucy Telles with Basket (1933) YRL BOTTOM Wilson Cabin, proposed for adaptive 

use at Indian Cultural Center 

181 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

• The automobile arrival route and parking area should 

be sited in a manner that does not dominate the entry 

open space. 

• The Valley Loop Trail should continue from west of 

the Indian Cultural Center area across the arrival road. 

The parking and the trash/propane storage area should 

be screened from the trail. 

• The relocated Valley Loop Trail should relate to small 

landscape features such as boulders, tree clusters, and 

drainages. Where appropriate the trail should align to 

take advantage of significant scenic views to Sentinel 

Rock and Leidig Meadow. The trail should meander 

and provide resting spots at important small-scale 

viewpoints as well. 

Landscape Elements 

• Based on site observations there may be distinct 

winter/spring drainage swales through the Indian 

Cultural Center leading to Leidig Meadow. Ecological 

restoration of these swales may provide an opportunity to revive riparian vegetation on swale banks and 

provide interpretive opportunities, such as American 

Indian uses of fresh water and riparian plants. 

• Subject to vegetation management and policies of park 

resources, consider removal of enough coniferous 

forest at the south edge of the area to create an open 

view to Leidig Meadow. The restored meadow could 

be planted with grasses and herbs with collectable 

edible seeds, in keeping with traditional practices of 

American Indian people. Revegetation should take 

advantage of natural drainage swale(s) also appropriate 

for riparian vegetation. 

• Since Northside Drive will eventually be converted to 

a multi-use trail, the proposed buffer zone along 

Northside Drive should be laid out to allow for new 

meadow views. 

• Use evergreen oaks for year-round screening of roads 

and for visual separation of the Indian Cultural Center 

from Camp 4. 

NPS 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines on 

vegetation, views, and grading and drainage. 

Buildings 

• Due to the close proximity of the Wilson Cabin and 

the new community center, the Wilson cabin should 

establish exterior materials, doors, windows, and overall façade character for the new community building. 

• The Wilson Cabin and the new community center 

should employ the same roof materials. 

• The new community center should have a rustic base. 

Refer to Unifying Elements, Building Exterior for 

more guidelines on the rustic base. 

• Color for the structures should relate to the natural 

palette of the traditional Indian structures. Door and 

window colors should be restrained. 

• Exterior lighting should be minimal and shielded. 

Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on lighting. 

Entrance to LeConte Memorial Lodge (2004) GH 

182 
� 

L ECO NTE M EMORIAL L ODGE 

LECONTE MEMORIAL LODGE 

LeConte Memorial Lodge was built in 1903 in memory 

of Joseph LeConte, an early director of the Sierra Club, 

an original member of the University of California faculty, 

and a noted geologist. It also served as a historical and 

scientific museum. Today LeConte Memorial Lodge, the 

oldest of the Sierra Club lodges, is open to the general 

public. In its quiet atmosphere, visitors find a small 

mountaineering library, historic and educational collections of pictures, and a source of general information on 

conservation, the national parks, and the High Sierra 

(Gill 1967). At one point in time, LeConte Lodge was 

the northern terminus of the John Muir Trail (Sierra 

Club 1967). 

1 

2 

3 

4 

1 Meeting Lodge 

2 Porch 

3 Walkway 

4 Parking 

183 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Easterly view of LeConte Memorial Lodge (2004) GH 

The Sierra Club constructed the building at the 

base of Glacier Point, adjacent to Camp Curry. About 

fifteen years later, Mary Curry moved the structure 

at her own expense to expand her camp operation. 

Gutleben Brothers Construction Company, hired to 

move the building, dismantled the roof structure and as 

much of the original stonework as they could. Their 

German stonemason and a few other workers rebuilt the 

Lodge according to the original plans on a new site a 

short distance west of its original location. The building 

was reopened in 1919. In 1987, the Lodge was designated 

a National Historic Landmark (NPS 2004d). The 

LeConte Memorial Lodge “is a unique building for a 

national park. It is a transitional structure of strong 

European roots combined with the revolutionary way 

that Bay Area environmental designers used building 

materials” (NPS 1985). 

s etting 

LeConte Memorial Lodge is located on the cooler forested 

side of Yosemite Valley, within the shadowline of the 

steep southern cliffs. The Lodge is directly south of 

Housekeeping Camp, across the Southside Drive. At the 

southern edge of the talus line and surrounded by large 

dispersed boulders, the stone building fits well into the 

sloping terrain. The scale and spacing of trees, allowing 

for dappled sunlight, and 

the lack of substantial 

understory give the 

setting the sense of a 

managed park-like estate. 

The building’s generous 

distance from Southside 

Drive and the multi-use 

path also contribute to 

the serene setting of this 

memorial structure. LeConte Memorial Lodge (2004) GH 

184 NPS 
� 

L ECO NTE M EMORIAL L ODGE 

develo p ed a rea 

LeConte Memorial Lodge is an example of the Tudor 

revival style of architecture that has been slightly modified to make it appear more rustic and thereby appropriate 

to its Valley setting (Land and Community Associates 

1994). Built of granite masonry with a high timber roof, 

the building is attributed to John White, brother-in-law 

of architect Bernard Maybeck. 

The timber roof, revealed in the interior, is a 

structural expression that was characteristic of many 

San Francisco Bay Area buildings of its period. Extreme 

verticality and multiple members create a rich layering 

of structure that gives the interior space a mood of lofty 

serenity. The tall fireplace, set on the main axis and kept 

well within the central area, dominates the space allowing 

the chimney to be an important element for the interior. 

The Sierra Club currently operates LeConte 

Memorial Lodge as a visitor center, a reference library for 

conservation affairs, and a site for interpretive programs. 

The Lodge provides a space that can be used for quiet 

research or the exchange of ideas in a setting evocative 

of rustic character. Ansel Adams in his early years in 

Yosemite spent time as a reference intern and custodial 

staff person during visitor seasons. 

GUIDELINES 

• Changes to the setting should not alter any historically 

significant features of the building or site. 

• It is likely that increasing forest cover of ponderosa 

pine and incense-cedar will continue to crowd out the 

black oak. Vegetation should be managed in accordance 

with park resources guidelines to maintain the current 

feeling of a controlled forest. 

• Because the LeConte Memorial Lodge is a freestanding 

building on a relatively undeveloped site, any new 

development will have a significant impact on the setting. New buildings or structures should be a sufficient 

LeConte Memorial Lodge with North Dome (2004) GH 

distance away from the Lodge so that the historical 

relationship between the Lodge and the landscape 

is preserved. 

• Because of the complexity of levels, both exterior and 

interior, and its historical significance, any modification 

to bring the Lodge into compliance with accessibility 

standards will require sensitive and diverse alternative 

proposals before action is taken. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for guidelines on the 

Shuttle Bus Stop at this site. 

185 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

HAPPY ISLES 

Happy Isles is located southeast of Curry Village on a 

braided and dynamic portion of the Merced River in an 

ecologically diverse community. The Nature Center at 

Happy Isles is a family-oriented facility that features 

natural history exhibits with an emphasis on wildlife, 

interactive displays, and a bookstore geared to natureexploring families. Nearby are short trails focusing on 

the area’s four different environments: forest, river, 

talus, and fen. There is also substantial evidence of the 

July 10, 1996 rockfall from the Glacier Point cliff far 

above the Nature Center. The catastrophic rockfall 

caused a great air blast that leveled hundreds of trees 

and damaged buildings. 

Happy Isles was originally the site of a fish 

hatchery, installed by the California Fish and Game 

Commission in 1919. A permanent hatchery building 

and two residences were subsequently built in 1928. 

The new hatchery made an important connection with 

the educational work carried out by the National Park 

Service. At that time the park instituted nature guide 

services at Happy Isles. 

The hatchery building, built of local rock and 

heavy timber, contained 52 troughs for hatching and 

rearing trout. A smaller room held four 250-gallon 

aquariums. The structure also held displays explaining 

the fishery program in Yosemite. 

Merced River at Happy Isles (2004) GH 

In 1956, the state abandoned the hatchery and 

ceded the facilities to the National Park Service. The fish 

hatchery was converted to the Nature Center at Happy 

Isles in 1957. While the building’s use changed substantially, its appearance did not (Land and Community 

Associates 1994). Renovations to the structure primarily 

occurred to the interior. The National Foundation for 

Junior Museums prepared and donated several exhibits 

for the new Nature Center. The state Department of 

Fish and Game also donated funds for exhibits on 

Yosemite fish rearing and stocking activities. The new 

center became the meeting place of the Yosemite Junior 

Ranger Program. 

The Nature Center at Happy Isles is a contributing 

building to the Yosemite Valley Historic District 

(NPS 2004d). 

s etting 

Distinct from the Valley floor, Happy Isles is sited in 

a narrow, geologically and hydrologically active area. 

Here the turbulent Merced River, joined by waters 

from Illilouette Creek, enters the flat Valley floor. It 

descends noisily and rapidly on a sloping plane from 

the south bringing rock and sand debris, and creating 

deposition areas such as the south and north islands— 

the Happy Isles. 

Happy Isles provides one of the best opportunities 

to observe the dynamic geology of Yosemite Valley. 

Stream deposition and debris from a catastrophic 1996 

rockfall provide evidence of recent flash floods and rockslides. At the southern portion of the area, a concession 

stand near the gauging station was hit by a falling tree 

immediately following the 1996 rockfall. The concrete 

footbridge was damaged by the same flood and was subsequently removed. The air blast from the 1996 rockfall 

flattened 11 acres of forest in its path. Much of the area 

lies within the rockfall shadow line (according to the 

Yosemite Valley Plan). The damaged forest, the light-colored 

186 NPS 
� 

H APPY I SLES 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11

12 

1 Fen Marsh Area 

2 Nature Center 

3 Blast Zone 

4 South Island 

5 Mist Trail 

6 John Muir Trail 

7 Historic USGS Stream 

Gauging Station 

8 Merced River 

9 Happy Isles Bridge 

10 Shuttle Bus Stop 

11 Restrooms 

12 North Island 

scar on the nearby granite wall, and the scree cone at its 

base present significant interpretive opportunities 

The fen, a unique wetland just west of the Nature 

Center, probably fed by high groundwater from the river, 

is another interpretive opportunity. Pines and cedar 

dominate the forest area not damaged by the rockslide. 

Some riparian communities survive along 

the braided channels of the river. 

Views north across the Valley to Washington 

Column and North Dome have been blocked by 

encroaching conifers. However, due in part to damage 

caused by the rockfall, significant views to the looming 

walls of Glacier and Sierra Points have opened up and 

can be seen from the Nature Center. 

There are three pedestrian routes from the shuttle 

bus stop to the Nature Center: a service road, the primary trail, and a paved but deteriorating asphalt trail 

parallel to the river. A variety of paving treatments are 

used, including asphalt, packed decomposed granite, and 

a boardwalk through the fen. The Happy Isles Bridge is 

a Valleywide contributing feature according to the 

Cultural Landscape Report for Yosemite Valley. 

Happy Isles is the major trailhead in Yosemite 

Valley. The famous 211-mile John Muir Trail, departs 

the Valley at this point. Visitors depart from here for 

both short day hikes to Vernal and Nevada falls and 

longer treks into the backcountry. 

187 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

TOP LEFT Happy Isles Nature Center (2004) GH TOP RIGHT Historic stream gauging station and former bridge abutment, Happy Isles (2004) JM 

BOTTOM LEFT Evidence of 1996 rockslide at Happy Isles (2004) GH BOTTOM RIGHT Vernal Fall 

188 NPS 
� 

H APPY I SLES 

i have named them happy isles for no one can visit them without for a 

while forgetting the grinding strife of his world and being happy. 

WALTER DENNISON • GUARDIAN OF YOSEMITE • OCTOBER 1885 

develo p ed a rea 

The natural landscape is the primary character-defining 

element at this site. Structures are disbursed around 

the site and include the Nature Center, a comfort station, 

a small snack stand, a new shuttle bus stop shelter, 

and a system of pedestrian bridges providing access to 

islands set in the rushing river. A historic stream flow 

gauging station sits on the opposite side of the river 

from the Nature Center. It is the oldest continuously 

operating U.S. Geological Survey station in the western 

United States. 

Trails and walkways run parallel to the river from 

the shuttle bus stop to the Nature Center. At the end of 

a pathway lies the Nature Center, close to the riverbank 

and set against the backdrop of a narrowing canyon. 

The Nature Center has a gable roof form. Its rectangular plan runs parallel to the river and the local 

canyon (an abrupt spur off the Valley) and is oriented 

south towards Illilouette Gorge. The entrance to the 

building is on the gable end to the north. The roof is 

of steep pitch (12/12) and is covered with wood shingles. 

The walls are constructed of masonry. 

GUIDELINES 

• The siting of new structures or facilities must be in 

accordance with management zoning prescriptions 

in the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 

Management Plan. 

• Layout and design of all structures (buildings, 

bridges, kiosks, pedestrian routes, etc.) must respect 

the locational and structural implications of building 

in this narrow, geologically active, flood-prone canyon. 

• Given the dynamics of plant communities in the area 

(e.g., riparian vegetation along the still actively braiding 

river and stream channels; pine forest recovery from 

the recent rockslide) and the potential for view recovery 

to the north through pine and cedar removal, a special 

landscape revegetation plan (similar to the 1999 

Bitterroot study) should be prepared to guide ecological restoration and interpretation. 

• Plant community management efforts should consider 

possible forest clearances to afford views to the north 

to Washington Column, North Dome, and to peaks 

immediately surrounding Happy Isles. 

• The network of trails and walkways should be 

sufficiently spread out, screened, and aligned to 

enhance a greater sense of isolation and connection 

to the landscape. 

• Pathway paving should reflect the strong wilderness 

character of this area, making use of compacted stabilized decomposed granite-type paving where feasible 

and surface-treated asphalt paving where necessary. 

Continue to use boardwalks through the fen. 

• Develop the pathway system to clarify the link 

between the shuttle bus stop/comfort station area and 

the Nature Center. There should be an accessible 

primary pedestrian pathway between the shuttle bus 

stop, the comfort station, and the Nature Center. 

• Because of the strong wilderness character of this 

day-use area, lighting should be limited to the few 

locations necessary, including the bus stop and the 

comfort station. 

• Trail design and signs should make visitors aware of 

the John Muir Trail, and access to it. 

• Preserve the sense of wilderness and isolation at 

Happy Isles by limiting site work and the number and 

location of new buildings. 

• New development should use the Nature Center as 

the reference for architectural character. 

• The scale and mass of any new development should 

not compete with the Nature Center. 

• New development should be located to the north of 

the Nature Center, and not compromise the existing 

setting to the south. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for guidelines regarding 

vegetation, entrance markers, small buildings, bridges, 

culvert crossings, boardwalks, retaining walls, grading 

and drainage, benches, fences and screens, barriers, 

and lighting. 

189 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

SHUTTLE BUS ST OPS 

Shuttle bus stops by their very nature can be highly visible, human-made intrusions into the fabric and landscape 

of the Valley. They must be easily recognizable yet also 

recede and blend as much as possible into the landscape. 

To preserve the visual tranquility of the setting, extra 

care must be given to the design of these structures. 

The key design elements of shuttle bus stops 

include the shelter structure design, the waiting area, 

transitions to existing landscape elements such as pathways, the treatment of existing vegetation, benches, 

barriers, lighting, and signage. 

Historic sites such as The Ahwahnee, Curry Village, 

Yosemite Village, and LeConte Memorial Lodge may 

incorporate design themes reflecting the character of 

the adjacent structures. 

s etting 

The setting for each new shuttle bus stop in Yosemite 

Valley is different. Some will be at the edges of open 

meadows, some will be in the forest, and those planned 

for developed areas such as at Yosemite Lodge and Curry 

Village will be next to buildings. Some stops will have 

Yosemite Falls shuttle bus stop (2004) RF 

shelters and others will not. The new shuttle bus stop at 

Yosemite Falls incorporates ease of maintenance and 

flexibility of access. The existing bus stop at Curry 

Village, while it embodies the visual spirit of the original 

complex, cannot satisfy current requirements for shuttle 

bus stops. The shuttle bus stop at Sentinel Bridge, 

because of its simple, non-intrusive structure, will be 

adapted to new functional requirements. 

GUIDELINES 

Site Design 

• Shuttle bus stops should be designed to make convenient connections with adjacent circulation pathways. 

Multiple entry points will provide easy access and 

allow approaches from different directions. The new 

Yosemite Falls stop is an example of a shuttle bus stop 

with multiple entry points. 

• Pedestrian zones associated with each shuttle bus stop 

waiting area must be integrated with surrounding 

pedestrian trails or gathering areas. They must also 

relate to adjacent bike trails, providing for appropriate 

separation, caution indicators, and bike racks. For 

example, incorporate adjacent trails or sidewalks into 

the shuttle bus stop pavement instead of separating 

them with narrow planting areas. 

• Allow generous space for the free flow of pedestrian 

circulation and multiple entry points in areas of high 

pedestrian traffic. 

• Avoid rigid geometric shapes. Use curvilinear forms to 

define the edges of paved waiting areas. Allow boulder 

and cobble clusters, tree drip lines, and grade changes to 

define the edges of pavements. This allows for informal 

transitions to adjacent planted or natural landscapes. 

• Lay out leading edge curbs or warning strips in transitional curves ensuring that safety for pedestrians and 

functional requirements for buses are not compromised. 

• With either a raised or a flush waiting area, the use 

of a granite edge element is recommended. If there is 

a curb, the granite should be split-face with a flame 

190 NPS 
� 

S HUT TLE B US S T OPS 

Shuttle bus stop at Valley Visitor Center (2004) RF 

finish. If there is no curb, the edge of the waiting area 

should be defined by a flush granite paver strip with 

flame finish. 

• Shuttle bus shelters and their surroundings should 

incorporate a set of standard elements throughout 

the Valley. The roof shape proportions, and ridge and 

eave height for example, should be the same, as should 

curb/warning strip treatment, benches, timber barriers, 

and signage. Where appropriate, incorporate some 

elements that are unique to the specific site. 

• In addition to sizing the platform for passenger load, 

the width and length of the shelter should be sized to 

provide proper protection from the weather. 

• Several smaller shelters, with space between them, are 

preferable to one long shelter. Smaller shelters have a 

modest scale and allow the layout to be easily adapted 

to local site conditions. 

Landscape Elements 

• Concrete is recommended for the platform and the 

braking pad areas. The concrete should include a color 

admixture in order to reduce the contrast with the 

roadway. The platform paving should have a light 

exposed aggregate finished surface. The braking pad 

should have a shuddered surface texture. Shape the 

concrete brake pad to conform to the zone required by 

buses to pull off of the adjacent roadway—in most 

cases a rectangle with tapered ends. Refer to the 

Yosemite Falls bus stop as an example. 

• Extend the concrete in the braking pads to the tapered 

ends where the bus stop is a pullout adjacent to the 

road. Refer to the Yosemite Falls bus stop as an example. 

• Where feasible, where curbs are appropriate, and 

where there is no need for crosswalks, place accessible 

ramps at the ends of the loading platform parallel 

to the alignment of the curb. Where feasible, use 

straight ramps instead of truncated ramps typical in 

urban settings. 

• Where macadam pedestrian pathways in the general 

area are being renewed or replaced, finish with 

surface-treated asphalt. See the Yosemite Falls 

shuttle bus stop. 

• Use barriers sparingly and where necessary for safety 

reasons or to prevent trespass onto planted areas. 

Around planted areas, use the pierced post system. 

Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 

on barriers. 

• Use barriers to separate pedestrian and bicycle traffic. 

The shuttle bus stop at Yosemite Falls uses a series of 

low stone walls which can also be used for seating. 

• Trash and recycling cans should be enclosed with 

the appropriate material and clustered at key points 

on the platform to maximize usage. Where the back 

edge of the platform abuts natural or planted areas, 

partial enclosures made of low granite walls or large 

boulders (backed with plantable mounded soil) may 

be appropriate. 

• Signs for wayfinding and transit information should 

comply with the park’s system wide sign system and 

the park’s editorial style guide. 

• Refer to Unifying Elements for guidelines on barriers 

and benches. 

Structures 

• The roof of the shelter should be framed using sawsized lumber with resawn surfaces. 

• For the standard design, roofing material should be 

either wood shingle or asphalt shingle, depending on 

local context and approval of the fire marshal. 

191 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Old style wood sign for John Muir Trailhead, Happy Isles (2004) RF 

• The bus shelter roof must divert rain and snow melt 

from the loading area, where passengers interface with 

the bus. Since the typical roof is a gable running parallel to the curb, gutters and leaders are required to conduct rainwater and snowmelt away from the loading 

area and sidewalk. This will help prevent ice from 

forming on the loading area in winter. 

• In more developed areas, columns should be saw-sized 

timbers, supported on concrete bases with concealed 

connectors. Log columns may be more appropriate in 

forested areas, or in historic districts with buildings of 

a strong rustic character. When logs are used for 

columns they should not appear too finished—tight 

knots are desirable, similar to lodgepole pine with 

bark peeled. 

• Columns should have a generous plinth to separate 

the wood column from water that might collect on 

the pavement. Board-formed concrete is recommended 

for typical structures. Granite masonry is also 

recommended where it is compatible with the 

architectural context. 

• Wood elements should have a protective stain in a 

color that blends with the surrounding landscape. 

• Lighting: 

– Surface-mounted ceiling fixtures are recommended for the 

shelter area. Electrical conduit should be concealed in the 

roof assembly. 

– Area lighting for the platforms should have fixtures 


shielded with sharp cutoffs.


– A pole-mounted area light is required for the waiting 


areas without shelters.


– Signs should incorporate lighting as required, primarily 


in developed areas.


– Refer to Unifying Elements for more guidelines 


on lighting.


Special Locations 

The Ahwahnee 

• To make the shelter compatible with the historic context, the design should consist of a log structure with 

granite bases. Logs should relate to the porte-cochere. 

LeConte Memorial Lodge and Housekeeping Camp 

• Locate the shelter east of the site, out of the primary 

view corridor of the LeConte Memorial Lodge. 

Curry Village Registration 

• To make the shelter compatible with the historic context, the design should consist of a log structure. The 

logs should be the same species, with bark, as found on 

the lounge building and the Camp Curry Welcome sign. 

Happy Isles 

• The shuttle bus shelter should be set back from the 

roadway, in the landscape area, among the trees. 

• Provide a generous walkway that allows visitors to 

walk to the trailhead of the John Muir Trail. 

• The architectural character of new structures should 

be compatible with the character of the Nature Center. 

Mirror Lake 

• The shuttle bus shelter should have log column supports. 

Mirror Lake (2002) RF 

192 NPS 

E NDNO TES


GLOSSARY 195


BIBLIOGRAPHY 199


PREPARER S + REVIEWERS 203


INDEX 204


OVERLEAF Black Oaks (1938) YRL-RA 
� 

D ESIGN G UIDELINES FOR Y OSEMITE VALLEY 

GLOSSAR Y 


100-year floodplain The land adjacent to a river 

corridor that would be covered by water during a 

100-year flood event. A 100-year flood event has a 

1% probability of occurring during any given year. 

Abutment A structure that supports the ends of 

a bridge or dam. 

Adaptive reuse A new use for a structure or 

landscape other than the historic use, normally 

entailing some modification of the structure or landscape. Also see Rehabilitation (cultural resources). 

Alluvial Processes by which sediment is deposited 

by running water. 

Alluvium Sediment deposited by a stream or 

other body of running water. 

Alpenglow A reddish glow on mountain peaks at 

sunset or sunrise, caused by reflected weak sunlight. 

Ambient noise The existing sounds at a given 

location coming from all sources, both near and far. 

Background noise The all-encompassing sound 

associated with a given environment at a specified 

time, usually a composite of sound from many 

sources and directions. Background noise remains 

in a given location in a given situation when all 

uniquely identifiable, discrete sound sources are 

eliminated, rendered insignificant, or otherwise 

not included. 

Bank The slope of land adjoining a body of water, 

especially a river, stream, lake, or channel. 

Base of talus See Talus slope zone. 

Biodiversity Or biological diversity, includes 

genetic diversity within species, species diversity 

within a community, and diversity in a full range 

of biological communities. An area is considered 

biologically diverse when it includes rich and stable 

populations of native species that are naturally 

distributed across the landscape. 

Biological community An association of plants 

and animals in a region dominated by one or more 

prominent species or by a physical characteristic 

(e.g., California black oak community). 

Braided stream system A stream pattern that 

is characterized by the division of water flow into 

more than one channel. A basic characteristic of 

this pattern is the diversion of a single trunk channel into a network of interconnected branches and 

the formation of interspersed islands. 

California black oak woodland A vegetation 

community dominated by California black oak 

(Quercus kelloggii). Other species that may be 

present include canyon live oak, California buckeye, 

Douglas-fir, incense-cedar, and ponderosa pine.The 

canopy can be continuous, intermittent, or savannalike. Shrubs may or may not be common. Ground 

layer vegetation is sparse or grassy (Sawyer 1995). 

Cabin (cultural resource) A small, rustic 

residential structure usually occupied seasonally. 

Cabin (lodging) A structure containing one to 

four lodging units, as defined in the 1992 Concession 

Services Plan/EIS. 

Chukah A Miwok storehouse. 

Colluvial soils Loose earth material (such as 

rock fragments, sand, etc.) that accumulates on 

steep slopes or at the base of talus slopes through 

the action of gravity. 

Community When used in a social or political 

context, refers to the group of people living in a 

particular area.When used in a biological context, 

any group of interacting organisms belonging to a 

number of different species that occur in the same 

habitat. Also see Biological community. 

Concessioner A private commercial entity that 

conducts business under contract with the 

National Park Service in Yosemite National Park to 

provide food, lodging, retail, recreation, and other 

services to park visitors. 

Conifer invasion The progressive growth of 

coniferous trees, such as pines and incense-cedars, 

into areas that formerly did not support these 

species. Over the last 150 years human-caused 

changes (such as alteration of soil moisture and 

suppression of a natural fire regime) have 

encouraged unnatural rates of conifer spread, 

reducing the size and continuity of meadows in 

Yosemite Valley. 

Cor-Ten steel A type of steel which oxidizes 

naturally over time, giving it an orange-brown color 

and a rough texture. It has a very high tensile 

strength, and in spite of its rusted appearance it is 

actually more resistant to damaging corrosion than 

standard forms of carbon steel. 

Cottage A lodging structure containing five to 

eighteen lodging rooms, as defined in the 1992 

Concession Services Plan/EIS. 

Cultural landscape A geographic area, including 

both cultural and natural elements, associated with 

a historic event, activity, or person, or exhibiting 

other cultural or aesthetic values.There are two 

primary types of cultural landscapes in Yosemite 

Valley: historic designed landscapes, such as The 

Ahwahnee and the Yosemite Village Historic 

District; and ethnographic landscapes, such as the 

entirety of Yosemite Valley. 

Cultural resources Properties such as landscapes 

or districts, sites, buildings, structures, objects, or 

cultural practices that are usually greater than 50 

years of age and possess architectural, historic, 

scientific, or other technical value. By their nature, 

cultural resources are non-renewable. 

Day visitor All visitors who do not spend the 

night in the park. 

Debris flow Soil, rock, and other materials that 

are rapidly transported by water and gravity. Debris 

flows occur in a variety of environments throughout Yosemite, ranging from steep ephemeral and 

perennial stream channels below cliffs to nearly flat 

alluvial fans adjacent to the Merced River floodplain. 

Degradation (natural resources) Refers to 

negative impact(s) to natural resources or natural 

processes.The impact may be singular or cumulative; the extent may be local or ecosystem-wide. 

The term degradation is used broadly and may 

refer to: reduction in habitat size, reduction in 

extent of plant populations, declining species vigor 

exhibited as reduced population numbers, reduced 

reproductive success, increased mortality rates, 

and/or decreased percent of available habitat utilized. 

Ecological restoration See Restoration (natural). 

Ecosystem A system that involves the interaction of organisms with their physical environment. 

Ecotone A vegetation transition zone between 

different habitat types, such as the area between 

meadows and California black oak woodlands. 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

A detailed statement required by the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when an agency 

proposes a major action that significantly affects 

the quality of the human environment.This document describes and analyzes the activities that 

might affect the human environment (Bass and 

Herson 1993). 

Exotic species See Non-native species. 

Facilities Refers to buildings, houses, campgrounds, picnic areas, visitor-use areas, operational 

areas, and associated supporting infrastructure 

such as roads, trails, and utilities. 

Fen A unique wetland type, possessing a water 

source that originates from alkaline ground water. 

Typically fens possess unique wetland vegetation 

adapted to saturated alkaline growing conditions. 

Fire return interval The typical period of time 

between naturally occurring fires. Fire return intervals vary by vegetation type and location. 

Floodplain Land on either side of a stream or 

river that is submerged during floods. 

195 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Footprint The land area covered or occupied by 

a function or structure. 

Free-flowing river A body of water existing or 

flowing under natural conditions without impoundments, diversions, straightening, riprapping, or other 

modification of the waterway (as defined in the 

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act –16 USC 1286 [b]). 

Also see Riprap. 

Geographic information system (GIS) 

A unique assemblage of hardware, software, and 

personnel that integrates digital databases, spatial 

technologies, and analytical methods in order 

to capture, store, edit, analyze, and display 

geographic data. 

Geologic hazards Natural geologic processes 

(i.e., rockfall) that occur or could potentially occur 

in locations that present a threat to humans or 

developed areas. 

Geomorphic Refers to the shape of the earth, 

or the shape of features on the earth’s surface. 

Glaciation A collective term for geologic 

processes of glacial activity, including erosion, 

deposition, and the resulting effects of such action 

on the earth’s surface. 

Groundwater All water found below the surface 

of the ground. Also see Surface water. 

Hazard trees “...any tree...either alive or dead, 

which due to outwardly visible defects could fall 

down (in part or in entirety) and strike a person 

or property within any designated portion of a 

development zone.” 

Hazardous waste Hazardous materials that 

no longer have practical use, such as substances 

that have been discarded, spilled, or contaminated, 

or that are being temporarily stored prior to 

proper disposal. 

Headwaters The point or area of origin for 

a river or stream. 

Herbaceous Refers to plants that lack 

a woody structure. 

Highly valued resources A set of natural and 

cultural resources that are the park’s highest priority 

for protection and restoration. Highly valued 

resources in Yosemite Valley are those that make 

up the Merced River ecosystem (Merced River, 

wetlands, riparian, and meadow communities), 

California black oak woodlands, sensitive wildlife 

habitats, rich soil areas, National Historic 

Landmarks, and important archeological sites. 

Highly valued resources are graphically portrayed 

in Vol. Ic, plate C of the Yosemite Valley Plan. 

Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)/ 

Historic American Engineering Record 

(HAER) An architectural and engineering documentation program that produces a thorough 

archival record of buildings, engineered structures, 

and cultural landscapes significant in American 

history and the growth and development of the 

built environment. 

Historic character The sum of all visual aspects, 

features, materials, and spaces associated with the 

historic nature of a site, structure, or landscape. 

Historic district A geographically definable urban 

or rural area, possessing a significant concentration, 

linkage, or continuity of sites, landscapes, structures, 

or objects united by past events or aesthetically by 

plan or physical developments. A district may also 

be composed of individual elements separated 

geographically but linked by association or history. 

Historic topography The physical features and 

contours of a place or region as they existed 

during historic time. 

Hotel A structure containing more than eighteen 

lodging rooms, as defined in the 1992 Concession 

Services Plan/EIS. 

Housekeeping unit A type of rustic accommodation found within Housekeeping Camp in Yosemite 

Valley.The unit is composed of a concrete threewalled structure with canvas roof and door, a 

small patio, and a common bathroom. 

Housing support facilities Amenities required 

by a typical residential community (i.e., post office, 

food preparation and service, recreational facilities, 

barber shop, child care, etc.). 

Hydrologic response The response of a watershed to precipitation, often the resulting streamflow 

from a precipitation event or snowmelt. 

Hydrology The science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water on the 

surface of the land, in the soil and underlying 

rocks, and in the atmosphere. 

Infrastructure The various systems and facilities 

needed to support park operations and visitor 

services (e.g., sewer and water systems, electric 

systems, communication lines, roads and trails, and 

various support buildings). 

Jerkinhead roof A gable roof that ends with a 

clipped ridge in the form of a small hip. 

Life zone Bands of characteristic vegetation 

occurring along elevation gradients. 

Liquefaction A process by which water-saturated 

soils lose strength and liquefy during ground 

shaking events. 

Lithic Of or relating to stone or stone tools. 

Lodging unit/room Concessioner-operated 

facilities for overnight visitors. A lodging unit may 

be a single structure, such as a tent cabin, or a 

series of rooms grouped into larger motels or 

hotels. Lodging rooms in Yosemite are available at a 

range of prices that correspond to the type of 

structure as well as the amenities provided. 

Mechanical treatment The alteration of the 

landscape using hand implements, power tools, and 

heavy equipment. 

Microclimate The distinct yet uniform, localized 

climate of a small site or habitat. 

Mission 66 style (architecture) Refers to 

buildings developed in national parks between 

1956 and 1966, during a period of experimentation 

with new structural forms, modern materials, 

and machine-driven methods of construction.The 

intent was to provide low maintenance, economical, 

permanent structures. 

Mitigation An activity designed to avoid, minimize, 

rectify, eliminate, or compensate for impacts of a 

proposed project. A mitigation measure should be 

a solution to an identified environmental problem. 

Mixed conifer zone Plant communities consisting 

of a mix of conifers such as pine, fir, incense-cedar, 

and Douglas-fir.The zone includes lower montane, 

montane, and upper montane coniferous forests. 

California black oak and other hardwoods are 

common associates. 

Moraine An accumulation of mineral material, 

such as boulders, stones, and sediment that is 

transported and deposited by a glacier. 

Mosaic A descriptive term for vegetation where 

the mix of species types and ages creates a diverse 

assemblage of vegetation or vegetation communities. 

This term can also be used to describe diversity in 

habitat types. 

Multi-use paved trail A trail that is intended 

for pedestrian and bicycle use. Occasionally, short 

segments of multi-use trails may also be used for 

horses, maintenance, and emergency access by 

motor vehicles. 

Museum collection Objects, works of art, 

historic documents, and natural history specimens 

collected according to a rational scheme and maintained so they can be preserved, studied, and 

interpreted for public benefit. 

196 NPS 
� 

G L OSSARY 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

The federal act that requires the development of 

an environmental impact statement (EIS) for federal 

actions that might have substantial environmental, 

social, or other impacts. 

National Historic Landmark A district, site, 

building, structure, landscape, or object of national 

historical significance designated by the Secretary 

of the Interior under authority of the Historic 

Sites Act of 1935 and entered in the National 

Register of Historic Places. 

National Register of Historic Places The 

comprehensive list of districts, sites, buildings, 

structures, and objects of national, regional, state, 

and local significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture.This list 

is maintained by the National Park Service under 

authority of the National Historic Preservation 

Act of 1966. 

Natural process A collective term for 

processes, including hydrologic, geologic, biologic, 

and ecosystemic, that are not the result of 

human manipulation. 

Natural quiet The absence of human-caused 

sounds. 

Natural resources Features and values that 

include plants and animals, water, air, soils, topographic features, geologic features, paleontologic 

resources, natural quiet, and clear night skies. 

Natural topography The natural shape or 

contour of the land. 

Non-native species Species of plants or animals 

that do not naturally occur in a particular area and 

often interfere with natural biological systems. 

Also known as alien, introduced, or exotic species. 

Off-season Refers to a period of year when 

Yosemite visitation is lowest, usually from late 

autumn to early spring. 

Ordinary high water That line on the shore 

established by the fluctuations of water and 

indicated by physical characteristics such as a clear, 

natural line impressed on the bank, shelving, changes 

in the character of the soil, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, the presence of litter and debris, 

or other appropriate means that consider the 

characteristics of the surrounding areas. 

Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs) 

The exceptional values of a river that warranted 

its inclusion in the national Wild and Scenic Rivers 

System. ORVs are the “scenic, recreational, geologic, 

fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar 

values...that shall be protected for the benefit and 

enjoyment of present and future generations.” 

Overnight visitor Refers to visitors who spend 

the night in Yosemite Valley.This includes those that 

stay in lodging, campgrounds, and wilderness areas. 

Oxbow A bend in a meandering river channel 

that is abandoned as the river shifts its course 

over time. Oxbows can remain saturated with 

surface water or groundwater for some time, 

providing diverse wetland habitats for vegetation 

and wildlife. 

Palustrine A term relating to vegetated 

wetlands (e.g., marsh, swamp, fen, bogs) and 

small, shallow ponds. 

Pedestrian/stock trail Mostly unpaved trails 

intended to accommodate both pedestrians and 

stock users. (Use of bicycles on unpaved trails is 

prohibited.) 

Point bars Areas along the inside bends of a 

meandering river where material is deposited. 

Pool-riffle The relationship, usually expressed as 

a ratio, between the surface area of pools and that 

of small rapids (riffles) in a given portion of a 

stream or river. 

Post-flood conditions Describes the environment in Yosemite Valley following the January 1997 

flood. Post-flood conditions include any subsequent 

clean-up activities, such as the removal of flooddamaged facilities at Yosemite Lodge and the closure 

of Upper and Lower River campgrounds. 

Prescribed fire Fires that are intentionally ignited 

under controlled conditions to meet management 

goals for natural resources and processes, wildland 

fire protection, and cultural resource preservation. 

Preservation (cultural resource) The act or 

process of applying measures to sustain the existing 

form, integrity, and material of a historic structure, 

landscape, or object.Work may include preliminary 

measures to protect and stabilize the property, but 

generally focuses on the ongoing preservation, 

maintenance, and repair of historic materials and 

features rather than extensive replacement and 

new work. 

Preservation (natural resource) The act or 

process of preventing, eliminating, or reducing 

impacts to natural resources and natural processes. 

Protected species See Threatened and 

endangered species. 

Radiating impacts Human activity and associated 

foot traffic that originates in visitor focal points, 

such as parking lots, and spreads into adjacent areas. 

Reconstruction The act or process of depicting, 

by means of new work, the form, features, and 

detailing of a nonsurviving historic structure or 

landscape for the purpose of replicating its 

appearance at a specific time and in its historic 

location. (The term also refers to the resulting 

structure or landscape.) 

Redevelop A term that applies to areas that 

are currently developed, where all or part of the 

existing development is removed and replaced, 

modified, or adaptively reused. 

Rehabilitation (cultural resources) The act or 

process of making possible an efficient, compatible 

use for a historic structure or landscape through 

repair, alterations, and additions while preserving the 

portions or features which convey the historical, 

cultural, and architectural values. Also see 

Adaptive use. 

Rehabilitation (natural resources) All activities 

conducted to improve the quality or biologic function of an impacted natural resource.The term 

rehabilitation connotes a less extensive process 

than restoration. Site impacts may preclude a full 

restoration, but project work is undertaken to 

enhance the extent or function of natural processes. 

Restoration (cultural) The act or process of 

accurately depicting the form, features, and character 

of an existing historic structure, landscape, or 

object as it appeared at a particular period of time, 

by removing modern additions and replacing lost 

portions of historic fabric, paint, or other elements. 

Restoration (natural) Work conducted to 

remove impacts to natural resources and restore 

natural processes, and to return a site to 

natural conditions. 

Revegetation Replacement or augmentation of 

native plants in an area largely or entirely denuded 

of vegetation. 

Riparian areas Areas that are on or adjacent to 

rivers and streams; these areas are typically rich in 

biological diversity (flora and fauna). 

197 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

Riprap Any hardening of a shoreline (with rocks 

or cement) to stabilize river banks for the protection of facilities on or near the bank. 

River Protection Overlay (RPO) A buffer area 

intended to protect the Merced River within the 

park boundary and the El Portal Administrative 

site, as prescribed by the 2000 Merced Wild and 

Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan/ 

Environmental Impact Statement. The River Protection 

Overlay includes the river channel and extends 

outward 150 feet from the ordinary high water 

line above 3,800 feet elevation (including Yosemite 

Valley and Wawona), and 100 feet from the ordinary 

high water line below 3,800 feet (including El Portal). 

Rockfall Associated forms of mass movement 

such as rock avalanches, rockslides, debris slides, 

and debris flows (Wieczorek, et al. 1998). 

Rockfall shadow zone A distance calculated to 

determine outlying boulder locations beyond the 

extent of talus.The SL is determined by a 

procedure based on the apex of the talus and a minimum shadow angle of 22 degrees (Wieczorek et al. 

1998). It is graphically depicted in Vol. Ic, plate D of 

the Yosemite Valley Plan. 

Rockfall talus zone See Talus slope zone. 

Root rot (Armillaria root rot) A native plant 

disease primarily affecting oaks, but other tree 

species as well; sometimes exacerbated by management activities. It can also result in tree hazards. 

Rustic style (architecture) Refers to a building 

style developed in the 1920s and 1930s in national 

parks.The Rustic style emphasized the use of natural 

materials and textures, and thoughtful integration 

with the natural landscape. 

Sediment A particle of soil or rock dislodged, 

transported, and deposited by surface runoff or a 

stream.The particle can range in size from microscopic to cobble stones. 

Sense of arrival An emotional and mental state 

that accompanies the end of a visitor’s travels and 

the beginning of their park experience. For many 

visitors, arriving in Yosemite Valley marks the end 

of a considerable journey involving both lengthy 

planning and travel. For some, a sense of arrival is 

created by the clear opportunity to park their car, 

learn about and plan activities in the park, and 

begin their exploration of the park with the assistance of exhibits, signs, guidebooks, trails, shuttle 

buses, etc. For others, this sense of arrival begins 

with the first sight of Yosemite icons (e.g.,Tunnel 

View, El Capitan, Half Dome). For returning visitors, 

this sense of arrival may occur as they check into 

their campsite, cabin, or lodging room. 

Stewardship The responsibility of caring for the 

park.This often grows from an understanding of 

and respect for the principles of the National Park 

System and the needs of the park’s natural, social, 

and cultural environment. 

Stock This term generally refers to horses and 

mules used for riding or carrying packed supplies 

on established trails. 

Succession The process by which vegetation is 

either re-established following a disturbance or by 

which it initially develops in an unvegetated site. 

This term also refers to the entire process from 

initial colonization to the development of vegetation typical of that geographic area. 

Surface-treated asphalt paving A method of 

modifying the finish of freshly-laid asphaltic concrete 

to accelerate blending with the surrounding ground 

by broadcasting and brooming the surface with fine 

soil from installation site. This was used at the 

Lower Yosemite Fall Trail. 

Surface water Water that naturally flows or 

settles on top of natural landforms and vegetation, 

often as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and other 

bodies of water. 

Sustainable design Sustainable Design is a concept that recognizes that human civilization is an 

integral part of the natural world and that nature 

must be preserved and perpetuated if the human 

community itself is to survive. Sustainable design 

articulates this idea through developments that 

exemplify the principles of conservation, particularly 

of nonrenewable resources, and encourages the 

application of those principles in our daily lives. 

Sustainable design results in development that 

meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their 

own needs; they do not permanently reduce the 

natural resources available to humanity. 

Talus An accumulated mass of rock fragments 

(broken rock formed by falling, rolling, or sliding) 

of various sizes derived from and lying at the base 

of a steep slope (Wieczorek, et al. 1998). 

Talus slope zone (TS) The area where the 

majority of accumulated rock debris is deposited 

at the base of a steep slope following a mass 

movement event (i.e., rockfall) (Wieczorek et al. 

1998). It is graphically depicted in Vol. Ic, plate D of 

the Yosemite Valley Plan. 

Threatened and endangered species Species 

of plants and animals that receive special protection under state and federal laws. Also referred to 

as listed, endangered, or protected species. 

Traffic check station A location where vehicle 

access is regulated; typically requires buildings, 

multiple traffic lanes, and staffing. 

Transit bus A mode of transportation that 

operates on a schedule along routes with established 

stops.Transit buses do not require daytime parking 

in Yosemite Valley, as they continuously pick up and 

drop off passengers along their established routes. 

Umacha A Miwok structure made of cedar bark 

and used for shelter. 

Understory An underlying layer of vegetation, 

specifically the vegetative layer, and especially the 

trees and shrubs, between the forest canopy and 

the ground cover. 

Upland community The vegetation found 

where soil conditions are average to dry and where 

soils are only infrequently flooded or saturated. In 

Yosemite Valley, mixed conifer, California black oak, 

and live oak communities dominate uplands. 

Visitor experience The perceptions, feelings, 

and interaction a park visitor has in relationship 

with the environment. The visitor experience is 

influenced by general access, facilities, visitor services, 

interpretation and orientation, and recreational 

opportunities. Other elements also contribute to 

the quality of the visitor experience, such as the 

condition of natural and cultural resources, air 

quality, transportation, and noise. 

Walk-in campground A campground with 

consolidated parking areas separated from the 

individual campsites. Campers walk a short 

distance from the parking area to their campsites 

(e.g., Camp 4 [Sunnyside Campground]). 

Walk-to campground A campground with no 

parking at the campsite, and no designated parking 

place associated with the campground.These 

campgrounds would be available for campers 

arriving in Yosemite Valley without a private vehicle 

(i.e., by bus, on foot, by bicycle). 

Wetland Areas that are inundated by surface or 

groundwater with a frequency sufficient to support, 

under normal circumstances, vegetation or aquatic 

life that requires saturated or seasonally saturated 

soil conditions for growth and reproduction. 

Wilderness Areas protected by provisions of 

the Wilderness Act of 1964.These areas are characterized by a lack of human interference in natural 

processes; generally, there are no roads, structures, 

installations, and the use of motorized equipment 

is not allowed. 

198 NPS 
� 

B IBLIOGRAPHY 

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Matthes, Francois E.


1950. The Incomparable Valley, A Geologic Interpretation


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McClelland, Linda Flint


1998. Building in the National Parks: Historic


Landscape Design and Construction. Baltimore, MD:


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Medley, Stephen P.


1994. The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National


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Association.


Meyerson, Harvey


2001. Nature’s Army. Lawrence, KS: University Press


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1874–75. John Muir’s Studies in the Sierra. (Reprint:


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Munz, Philip A., and David D. Keck 


1959. A California Flora. Berkeley, CA: University 


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199 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

NPS (National Park Service) 

1935. Park Structures and Facilities. 

Unpublished report. 

1976a.The Ahwahnee Hotel National Register 

of Historic Places Nomination.Yosemite National 

Park, CA. 

1976b. Camp Curry Historic Site National Register 

of Historic Places Nomination.Yosemite National 

Park, CA. 

1977a. Yosemite Village Historic District National 

Register of Historic Places Nomination.Yosemite 

National Park, CA. 

1977b. Rustic Architecture: 1916 –1942. National 

Park Service,Western Regional Office, Division of 

Cultural Resource Management. 

1978.“Vegetational Changes in Yosemite Valley,” 

National Park Service Occasional Paper No. 5. 

Yosemite National Park, CA. 

1980a. Design Criteria for the Curry Village Historic 

District. National Park Service, Division Cultural 

Resources Management,Western Regional Office. 

1980b. General Management Plan. Yosemite 

National Park, CA. 

1983. Administrative History: Expansion of the 

National Park Service in the 1930s. U.S. Department 

of the Interior, National Park Service, Denver 

Service Center. 

1984. Best’s Studio Historic Structures Report. 

National Park Service, Park Historic Preservation 

Division,Western Regional Office. 

1985. LeConte Memorial Lodge National Register 

of Historic Places Nomination.Yosemite National 

Park, CA. 

1986. Architecture in the Parks: National Historic 

Landmark Theme Study. Unpublished report. 

1987. Yosemite: the Park and its Resources, Historic 

Resource Study.Yosemite National Park, CA. 

1989. Architectural Character Guidelines, Sequoia & 

King’s Canyon National Parks, Sequoia and King’s 

Canyon National Parks, CA. 

1990. Yosemite: Official National Park Handbook 138, 

A Guide to Yosemite National Park. Division of 

Publications, National Park Service. 

1994. Grand Canyon National Park Architectural 

Character Guidelines. 

1994b. Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design. 

1995a. Presenting Nature:The Historic Landscape 

Design of the National Park Service.Washington, 

D.C.: Government Printing Office. 

1995b. Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the 

Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for 

Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing 

Historic Buildings. National Park Service, 

Washington, D.C. 

1995c. Wilderness Historic Resources Surveys, 

1988 –1995.Yosemite National Park, CA. Surveys 

on file at Yosemite National Park Research Library. 

1996a. The Ahwahnee Landscape Maintenance Plan. 

Yosemite National Park, CA. 

1996b. Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the 

Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for the 

Treatment of Cultural Landscapes. National Park 

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1997a. Exterior Lighting Guidelines Final Draft 

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1997b. Vegetation Management Plan. Yosemite 

National Park, CA. 

2000a. Mission 66 Visitor Centers,The History of a 

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National Park Service,Washington, DC. 

2000b.Yosemite Valley Plan, Volumes 1–3. Yosemite 

National Park, CA. 

2001a. Camp 4 National Register of Historic Places 

Nomination.Yosemite National Park, CA. 

2001b. Management Policies, National Park Service, 

Washington, D.C. 

2001c. Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive 

Management Plan. National Park Service, 

Washington, D.C. 

2001d. Residential Yard Care Policy, Housing 

Management Plan. Chapter 6, Policies,Yosemite 

National Park, CA. 

2002a. Cultural Landscape Treatment 

Recommendations,Yosemite Village Historic District, 

Housing Area, 85% Draft. Yosemite National Park, 

CA. Unpublished report. 

2003. NPS Correspondence, Jim Snyder, Park 

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2004a. Snyder, Jim. Personal communication, 2004. 

2004b. Struble, Craig, personal communication, 

May 13, 2004. 

2004c. Yosemite National Park Fire Management 

Plan/EIS. 

2004d. Yosemite Valley Historic District National 

Register of Historic Places Nomination,Yosemite 

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Nordhoff, Charles


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Obata, Chiura 


1993. Obata’s Yosemite: The Art and Letters of Chiura


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Ogden, Kate Nearpass


1990.“Sublime Vistas and Scenic Backdrops:


Nineteenth-Century Painters and Photographers 


at Yosemite.” California History, Summer 1990:


pp. 134–153.


200 NPS 
� 

B IBLIOGRAPHY 

Olmsted, Frederick Law 


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1930. Drawing entitled Suggested Revisions and


Appropriate Draining and Planting.


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1997. The Ahwahnee Historic Structure Report:


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Pavlik, Robert C.


1990.“In Harmony with the Landscape: Yosemite’s


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1991. National Park Service: A 75th Anniversary


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1918. Annual Report of the Department of the Interior.


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1971. Effects of Noise on Wildlife and Other Animals.


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National Forests and Grasslands.Washington, DC: 

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1980. Parks, Politics, and the People. Norman, OK:


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and Federal Architecture. Malibu, CA: Pangloss Press.


201 

� 

P REP ARERS + R EVIEWERS 

PREP ARER S + REVIEWERS


A SENSE OF P L A CE design guidelines for 

y osemite valley 

©2005 National Park Service 

All Rights Reserved 

National Park Service, 

Yosemite National Park 

Michael J. Tollefson, Superintendent 

Kevin Cann, Deputy Superintendent 

Bill Delaney, Chief of Project Management/Compliance 

Russell Galipeau, Former Chief of Resources 

Management & Science 

Jerry Mitchell, Former Acting Chief of Resources 

Management & Science 

DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. 

Jerry Ernest, Director of Facility Services 

Tim Smith, Director of Operations 

PREP ARERS AND PR OJECT TEAM 

National Park Service, 

Yosemite National Park 

Randy Fong, Project Manager/Architect 

Paul Chattey, Historical Architect 

Consultants 

George Homsey, FAIA, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis, Architects 

Jim McLane, Architect, 

James McLane & Associates 

Tito Patri, FASLA, Landscape Architect 

Katherine Whitney, Editor, 

Katherine Whitney & Associates 

Madeleine Corson, Book Designer, 

Madeleine Corson Design 

Melissa Harris, Architect, Associate Professor, 

University of Michigan 

David Robbins, Graphic Support, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis, Architects 

R EVIEWERS AND A D VISORS 

National Park Service, 

Yosemite National Park 

Sue Beatty, Biologist, 

Resources Management & Science 

Ed Billington, Division Liaison, 

Facilities Management 

Linda Eade, Research Librarian, 

Interpretation & Education 

Dave Forgang, Museum Curator, 

Interpretation & Education 

Don Fox, Landscape Architect/Accessibility Coordinator, 

Facilities Management 

Sue Fritzke, Vegetation Ecologist, 

Resources Management & Science 

Phyllis Harvey, Division Liaison, 

Visitor Protection 

Laura Kirn, Archeologist, 

Resources Management & Science 

Carol Knipper, Division Liaison, 

Resources Management & Science 

Victoria Mates, Writer/Editor, 

Interpretation & Education 

Barbara Moritsch, Division Liaison, 

Resources Management & Science 

Bob Roney, Interpreter, 

Interpretation & Education 

Bill Rust, Concession Facility Manager-Engineer, 

Business & Revenue Management 

Kristina Rylands, Editor-in-Chief, 

Interpretation & Education 

David Siegenthaler, Interpreter, 

Interpretation & Education 

Jeannette Simons, Park Historic Preservation Officer, 

Project Management/Compliance 

Jim Snyder, Historian, 

Interpretation & Education 

Gretchen Stromberg, Compliance Specialist, 

Project Management/Compliance 

Craig Struble, Historic Preservation Specialist, 

Facilities Management 

Kim Tucker, Division Liaison, 

Business & Revenue Management 

National Park Service,


Pacific West Region-Oakland Office


Michael Crowe, Architectural Historian 

Robbyn Jackson, Historical Architect 

Kimball Koch, Landscape Architect 

National Park Service,


Pacific West Region-Seattle Office 


Cathy Gilbert, Historical Landscape Architect 

David Louter, Historian 

DNC Parks and Resorts of Yosemite, Inc. 

Don Evans, Project Manager 

Bill Hunsaker, Project Manager 

Bridget Rabon, General Manager, Yosemite Lodge 

Independent Reviewer 

Jim Benya, Benya Lighting Design 

Ethan Carr, Assistant Professor, Department of 

Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, 

University of Massachusetts, Amherst 

Valley Project Firms 

East Valley Site Plan, Curry Village Cabins, and 

Employee Housing, Architectural Resources 

Group, Inc. 

Lower Yosemite Fall, Office of Lawrence Halprin 

Valley Shuttle Bus Stops, David Evans and 

Associates, Inc. 

Yosemite Lodge/Camp 4/Northside Drive, 

Sasaki Associates Inc. 

PHO T OGRAPHY CREDITS 

DNC: Delaware North Companies 

DNC-KW: Delaware North Companies, Keith Walklet 

GH: George Homsey 

JM: James McLane 

NPS-DD: National Park Service Night Sky Team, 

Dan Duriscoe 

RF: Randy Fong 

SA: Sasaki Associates Inc. 

TP: Tito Patri 

YRL: Yosemite Research Library 

YRL-EM: Yosemite Research Library, E.F. Menning 

YRL-HW: Yosemite Research Library, H.D. Wulzen 

YRL-OW: Yosemite Research Library, Onas Ward 

YRL-RA: Yosemite Research Library, Ralph Anderson 

YRL-ST: Yosemite Research Library, Steve Thompson 

YRL-TH: Yosemite Research Library, 

Thomas Houseworth 

FRONT COVER PHOTO Bird walk group along Merced 

River (1936) YRL-RA 

BACK COVER PHOTO Ahwahnee bungalow, chimney 

detail (2004) RF 

ILLUSTRA TION CREDITS 

Hand sketches by Melissa Harris unless 

noted otherwise 

OPPOSITE Original architectural drawing of 

The Ahwahnee (1926) 

203 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

INDEX


A 

accessibility, 18–19, 59, 78, 81, 109,126, 171 

Administration Building, NPS: 

location of, 27, 100 – 101, 104 

masonry, 91 

original construction of, 40 – 42, 95 

Rustic style, 41, 87, 91, 105, 108 

Ahwahnee,The: 

architectural character of, 86 –88 

guidelines for, 141– 46 

entrance markers, 72 

location of, 27 – 28, 84 

masonry, 91 

Mather, 42 

National Historic Landmark, 28, 31 

setting and scenic views, 55 – 56, 58, 60 

Ansel Adams Gallery, 102–4, 106 

architectural character: 

camp areas, 167, 174 

central Village, 105– 6 

Curry Village, 128 – 29, 133 – 34, 136 

developed areas, 84, 86–87 

Happy Isles, 189, 192 

maintenance area, 116 

small buildings, 73 

Upper, Lower, Middle Tecoya, 111– 12 

Yosemite Lodge, 156, 160 

Arts and Crafts style, 41, 53, 96, 116 

B 

barriers, 79 – 81 

base, wall: 

building exterior, 91– 92 

Curry Village, 131, 135, 138 

small buildings, 73, 75 

Yosemite Lodge, 158–59, 162 

benches: 

The Ahwahnee, 144 – 45 

Curry Village, 126, 131 

guidelines for, 79–81 

shuttle bus stops, 190–91 

small buildings, 73 

Yosemite Village, 108 – 9 

bicycle routes, 28, 68, 154, 190 –91 

bio-swale, 71–72 

boardwalks, 76 –78 

bridges: 

guidelines for, 76–78 

original construction of, 44 – 45 

Yosemite Valley, 30–31 

building exterior: 

architectural character, 105– 6 

central Village administrative area, 108 

Curry Village, 131, 135, 138 

guidelines for, 91– 92 

small buildings, 75 

Yosemite Lodge, 158, 161 

building orientation: 

camp areas, 168 

central Village, 104 –5 

Curry Village, 127– 28, 132–33 

employee housing, 136 

guidelines for, 84 – 85 

setting, 54 – 56, 60 

Yosemite Lodge, 155 –56, 159 

building shape and massing: 

central Village, 106 

Curry Village, 129, 134, 137 

guidelines for, 87– 88 

Yosemite Lodge, 156 

C 

cabins: 

Curry Village, 119 – 20, 124 – 26, 132 – 38 

Indian Cultural Center, 28, 180 – 82 

Yosemite Lodge, 152, 160 

Camp 4: 28, 40, 165, 169 – 72, 180 – 82 

campgrounds: 

comfort stations, 73 – 75 

development of, 40, 45, 47, 67 

guidelines for, 165 – 68 

location of, 27– 30 

Merced River, 58 

chapel, 178 

chukah, 33 

circulation: 

camp areas, 171, 174 

Curry Village, 125, 127 , 131 

day-use areas, 179 

guidelines for, 67– 72 

shuttle bus stops, 190 

Yosemite Lodge, 154 

Yosemite Valley, 28 – 30, 40 

Yosemite Village, 100 –2, 112 

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), 

44 – 45, 53, 62, 79, 81 

climate, 42, 55, 120, 142, 150 

comfort stations: 

camp areas, 166 – 68, 171, 174 

Curry Village, 125, 132 

guidelines for, 73– 75 

Happy Isles, 189 

concrete: 

The Ahwahnee, 145 – 46 

architectural character, 86 – 87 

building exterior, 91– 92, 131, 135, 138, 158 –59 

guidelines for, 75 – 77 

shuttle bus stops, 191–92 

trails, 69 

conifers: 

Curry Village, 121, 123 

guidelines for, 65 – 66 

Happy Isles, 187 

Yosemite Lodge, 152, 159 

Yosemite Village, 98 –99, 103, 105 

cultural landscape: 

architecture, 31, 54 

camp areas, 166 

climate, 55 

development, 11, 17 

Happy Isles bridge, 187 

historic views, 60 

Yosemite Valley Historic District, 23 

Yosemite Valley Plan, 21 

Yosemite Village, 112, 115 

culvert crossings, 76, 78, 125, 155, 179, 189 

Curry Village: 

campgrounds, 166 

climate, 55 

guidelines for, 119–38 

history of, 40 

location of, 27, 29 –31 

shuttle bus stop, 190, 192 

D 

day-use areas, 101, 103 – 4, 177–79 

drainage: 

Curry Village, 120, 125 –26 

guidelines for, 78 –79 

Merced River, 58 – 59 

Yosemite Village, 103– 4 

204 NPS 
� 

I NDEX 

E 

ecotone, 61, 64 

employee housing, 21, 46 – 47, 120, 136–37 

entrance markers, 72–73, 125, 155, 179, 189 

entrances, 46, 72-73, 75, 82, 91– 92, 131, 134, 136,


138, 161


F 

fences, 79– 81, 179, 189 

floodplain:


The Ahwahnee, 143


central Village, 103


Housekeeping Camp, 165, 172


Merced River, 28, 58 – 59, 98


Valley floor, 24, 27 


vegetation, 123


Yosemite Lodge, 149, 151– 52 


footbridges, 73, 76 –77, 125, 146, 173, 186 

G 

general management plan, 19 –20, 48, 60 

grading:


camp areas, 171


Curry Village, 125–26


guidelines for, 78 –79


Indian Cultural Center, 181–82


parking areas, 71


site planning, 85


guest lodging: 

see Ahwahnee,The 

Curry Village 

Yosemite Lodge 

H 

Happy Isles, 29–30, 76, 167, 186– 89, 192 

historic districts:


Camp Curry, 126, 136 –37


Yosemite Valley, 17, 23, 31, 149, 172, 186


Yosemite Village, 27, 100, 102, 109, 112, 115


Housekeeping Camp, 29 –30, 165, 172–74, 192 

I


Indian Cultural Center, 28, 172, 180– 82 

interpretive waysides and plaques, 67, 69, 151,


171, 178


L 

Land and Community Associates, 103, 111-12,


114 –15, 154, 172, 185 – 86


land use and spatial organization:


Curry Village, 124


guidelines for, 66-67


Housekeeping Camp, 174


unifying themes, 54


Yosemite Lodge, 153


Yosemite Village, 98, 100 –1


LeConte Memorial Lodge, 30–31, 53, 182–185 natural systems and features:


lighting: barriers, 79


Curry Village, 126 camp areas, 168, 170–71


guidelines for, 82–83 circulation, 67– 68 

Happy Isles, 189 Curry Village, 120–21, 125, 132–33, 136 

shuttle bus stops, 190–92 guidelines for, 55–59 

Yosemite Lodge, 155 Indian Cultural Center, 179


Yosemite Village, 112, 116 parking, 70–71 

site planning, 85


Lower Yosemite Fall: unifying themes of, 53–54


project, 177, 179, 190 Yosemite Lodge, 150–52


scenic views of, 58 Yosemite Valley, 23


Yosemite Village, 98 


M 

night sky, 82–84 

masonry: 

architectural character, 105–6 O 

CCC, 45 

guidelines for, 76–77 oak, black: 

The Ahwahnee, 143 Rustic style, 41, 53, 114 Curry Village, 123


Mather, Stephen T., 15, 41– 43, 45–46, 52–53, 149 Indian Cultural Center, 180 

Maybeck, Bernard, 53, 86, 185 Miwok people, 33


vegetation, 55, 61, 62, 99


meadows: Yosemite Lodge, 150, 152


The Ahwahnee, 143 Yosemite Village, 103, 109, 112, 115


boardwalks, 77–78


day-use areas, 178–179 Olmsted, Frederick Law, 37, 52, 141, 143 

fencing, 80 Organic Act of 1916, 16, 19


guidelines for, 64– 65, 68 , 70


history, 35–36, 38 P


Merced River, 58


shuttle bus stops, 190 parking:


siting, 84– 85 The Ahwahnee, 144


vegetation, 61– 62 camp areas, 170 –71


Yosemite Lodge, 152–53, 156, 159 Curry Village, 125


day-use areas, 179


Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive guidelines for, 67–72


Management Plan, 20, 58–59, 64–65, Indian Cultural Center, 181– 82


71–72, 78–79, 85, 126 landscape use, 100 –105


Mission 66 initiative, 28, 46–47, 86, 96, 156, 160 lighting, 82 

Yosemite Lodge, 153-55


Miwok, 33–35


picnic areas, 67, 75, 178–179


Muir, John, 11, 30, 38, 51, 84, 149, 165, 177, 183,


187, 189, 192 plaza, 58, 68, 84, 95–96, 98–106, 108, 124 

museum, 27, 91, 95–96, 99–101, 104–6, 108 porches: 

Curry Village, 131, 134–38


N guidelines for, 91–92


Yosemite Lodge, 158, 160– 62


national historic landmark, 28, 30, 31, 53, 106, Yosemite Village, 105–6


142, 184


porous pavement, 71


national historic site, 28
 post office, 42, 87, 100, 104–5, 108 

National Park Service policies, 15–16, 85 Public Works Administration (PWA), 45


National Register of Historic Places, 17, 31, 112,


120, 141– 42, 166, 169


natural light and sound, 55, 85, 108, 120, 128,


136, 159, 162


205 
A S ENSE OF P L A C E 

R 

Rangers’ Club, 27, 31, 42, 96, 99, 104–5, 108 

Residential Yard Care Policy, 112, 115


retaining walls, 44, 76, 78, 115, 125, 155, 179, 189


Reynolds, John J., 7–9 

riparian vegetation: 

camp areas, 167, 170, 172–73 

central Village, 103– 4 

Curry Village, 120, 123


fencing, 79–81 

grading, 78 – 79 

guidelines for, 65


Happy Isles, 187, 189


Merced River, 58 –59 

natural systems, 55, 58


other vegetation, 61


parking, 71


Tecoya area, 112


Yosemite Lodge, 152


rockfall: 

camp areas, 167, 170–71 

Curry Village, 120, 136


Happy Isles, 186, 187


Valley walls, 56


Yosemite Village, 98, 100, 109, 112, 115 


roofs: 

architectural character, 86


Curry Village, 129, 133–34 

guidelines for, 88–90 

Rustic style, 53, 114


small buildings, 73, 75


Yosemite Lodge, 156-58, 160–61 

runoff, 72, 78–79, 103, 120, 125, 171 

Rustic style: 

The Ahwahnee, 145 

building character, 86–89 

camp areas, 168


Curry Village, 120, 127–28, 136– 38 

day-use areas, 179


development of, 41– 42, 44–46, 53–54 

small buildings, 73


Yosemite Lodge, 156, 158– 60


Yosemite Village, 105, 108, 111, 114


S 

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the 


Treatment of Historic Properties, 17, 87, 129, 137


shuttle bus stops, 68, 81– 82, 189–92 

signs, 44, 47, 108, 179, 189, 191– 92 


small buildings, 73–75, 125, 134, 167– 68, 178 –79 

sustainability, 15–17, 158


T 

talus, base of: 

camp areas, 169, 173


Curry Village, 120– 21, 124 

spatial organization, 66


Yosemite Village, 98, 100, 112 

Tecoya dorms, 88, 100, 102, 109–112, 160 


trails: 

camp areas, 167, 171


circulation, 67– 68 

Curry Village, 125 

guidelines for, 68– 69 

Happy Isles, 186, 189


history of, 33, 35, 37, 40, 43– 44 

lighting of, 82


scenic views, 58–59 

shuttle bus stops, 190


transit areas, center, 68, 101, 103, 177


U 

umachas, 180


Underwood, Gilbert Stanley, 141, 144– 45 

universal design, 15, 18


utility buildings, 41, 83, 99–100, 102, 115–16, 181 

V


vegetation: 

The Ahwahnee, 143, 146


barriers, 79– 81, 126


camp areas, 167, 170, 172–74 

Curry Village, 120, 123


day-use areas, 178 – 79


drainage, 78–79, 125


grading, 78 –79, 125


guidelines for, 64– 65 

Happy Isles, 189


Indian Cultural Center, 182


management of, 64– 65 

restoration of, 58– 59, 112 

types of, 61– 64


Yosemite Lodge, 152– 54


Yosemite Village, 98–100, 103– 5, 112, 115 

views, historic, 61, 98 –99, 123, 146 

views, scenic: 

The Ahwahnee, 142– 44 

building orientation, 84– 85; 

camp areas, 167– 68


circulation, 67– 69 

Curry Village, 121, 123, 136


day-use areas, 178 – 79


design ethic, 53– 54, 59– 61 

guidelines for, 61


Happy Isles, 187, 189


Indian Cultural Center, 182


Yosemite Lodge, 151– 52, 154 – 56, 159


Yosemite Village, 98 – 99, 104 – 5


visitor center, 27, 46– 47, 96, 100, 104–6, 185 

W 

walls, 41, 42, 53, 75–78, 86, 91 

windows: 

Curry Village, 131, 133, 135, 138


guidelines for, 91


roofs, 89 

Rustic style, 86


Yosemite Lodge, 158, 162


Yosemite Village, 111, 114 –15 

Y 

Yosemite Lodge, 3, 27–28, 84, 86, 149– 62 

Yosemite Valley Plan, 20 – 21, 48, 56, 58, 101, 103,


105, 109, 112, 115, 136, 143, 149 – 51, 153, 167, 181


Yosemite Village: 

building exteriors of, 91


central Village administrative area, 102– 8


design ethic for, 52– 53


guidelines for, 95–116 

location of, 27– 28


maintenance service and storage areas in, 27,


96, 100 –2, 115–16 

pedestrian plaza of, 68


planning for, 41– 42, 45, 95, 180


residential areas in, 61, 81, 98 – 102, 109, 112,


114–16 

206 NPS