III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 484 

Recognizing and honoring the 150th anniversary of the establishment of 

the Yosemite Grant Act. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 25, 2014 

Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and honoring the 150th anniversary of the 

establishment of the Yosemite Grant Act. 

Whereas Yosemite National Park is internationally renowned 

as one of the most extraordinary examples of natural 

beauty, splendor, and majesty, and is a showcase of spectacular waterfalls, fantastic geologic history, and abundant wildlife that has provided sanctuary, comfort, and 

inspiration to humans for thousands of years; 

Whereas, on June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln 

signed the Act entitled ‘‘An Act authorizing a Grant to 

the State of California of the ‘Yo-Semite Valley’ and of 

the Land embracing the ‘Mariposa Big Tree Grove’ ’’, approved June 30, 1864 (commonly known as the Yosemite 

Grant) which— 


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•SRES 484 ATS 

(1) for one of the first times in United States history set aside land for enjoyment and protection for future generations; and 

(2) demonstrated—during some of the bloodiest 

days of the Civil War—the unique vision of the United 

States to protect what would become one of the most 

cherished and iconic national parks; 

Whereas with President Lincoln’s action, this vision was codified and marked Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove as 

the seed of the conservation movement in what is now 

known as ‘‘America’s Best Idea’’; 

Whereas June 30, 1864, marks the birth of the national park 

idea, the concept that has inspired over 400 National 

Park units in the United States and hundreds of national 

parks worldwide; 

Whereas the land surrounding Yosemite Valley and Mariposa 

Grove was designated the 3rd national park on October 

1, 1890, and Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were 

added to Yosemite National Park in 1906; 

Whereas the land preserved within Yosemite National Park 

is part of the ancestral homeland of several American Indian tribes and groups; 

Whereas Yosemite National Park was dedicated a World Heritage Site in 1984 and has fostered sister park relationships with national parks in foreign countries including— 

(1) Huangshan National Park and Jiuzhaigou National Park in China; and 

(2) Torres del Paine National Park in Chile; 

Whereas Yosemite National Park, a leader within the National Park Service, is— 

(1) the first national park to open a museum; 


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•SRES 484 ATS 

(2) the first national park to hire a female law enforcement ranger; 

(3) the birthplace of rustic style architecture and of 

big wall rock climbing; 

(4) the first national park to formally implement 

park education and interpretation programs; and 

(5) the first national park to partner with a nonprofit stewardship organization; 

Whereas Yosemite National Park receives over 4,000,000 

visitors each year from around the world; 

Whereas Yosemite National Park is home to a variety of natural resource features, containing— 

(1) wilderness areas encompassing 94 percent of the 

park’s acreage; 

(2) more than 800 miles of trails including the renowned Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail; 

(3) 2 federally designated wild and scenic rivers, the 

Tuolumne River and the Merced River; 

(4) the largest intact subalpine meadow complex in 

the Sierra Nevada; and 

(5) 30 properties and districts listed on the National 

Register of Historic Places and 5 National Historic 

Landmarks; 

Whereas Yosemite National Park continues to embody amazing opportunities for recreation and public enjoyment in 

one of the most amazing natural physical landscapes in 

the world; and 

Whereas the preservation of Yosemite National Park is a testament to the commitment and determination of many 

dedicated people and institutions over the past 150 years: 

Now, therefore, be it 


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•SRES 484 ATS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) recognizes and honors the 150th 2 anniversary 

3 of the establishment of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act au4 thorizing a Grant to the State of California of the 

5 ‘Yo-Semite Valley’ and of the Land embracing the 

6 ‘Mariposa Big Tree Grove’ ’’, approved June 30, 

7 1864 (commonly known as the Yosemite Grant) (re8 ferred to in this resolving clause as the ‘‘Yosemite 

9 Grant Act’’) on June 30, 2014; and 

10 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

to observe and honor the 150th 11 anniversary of the 

12 establishment of the Yosemite Grant Act. 

Æ 


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