Yosemite Valley is a wonderful place. Everywhere you look you see plains filled with flower and animals. But have you ever wondered how Yosemite Valley was discovered? That is what this web page is about.
The first white people to ever find the Yosemite Valley were the Joseph Walker Party in 1833, although they didn’t enter the valley. The first time any white person ever went into the valley was 20 years later in 1853 when the miners entered. When the miners came to mine in the Sierra Nevada foothills they fought with the Indians over the land. In order to stop them from fighting they organized the Mariposa Battalion. In March 27th 1851 the Mariposa Battalion entered the Yosemite Valley to find Indians and kill them. We know this stuff from written records and archeological digs.
On June, 30, 1864 Yosemite was opened for all ages to go see the beautiful Valley. In other words Yosemite was opened to tourism. Why they did this is to Protect it and let the people enjoy the scenery.But this ended 1864 californa gave Yosemite Valley over to the government. They immediately sent in park rangers. Then in August 25,1916 the president made the National Park Service and made Yosemite Valley a National Park.
