BROADLEAVED TREES OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



31 



of Waltham, Massachusetts (5). Of 

 these trees only one remains. It can 

 be found near the road intersection 

 on the north side of the Valley oppo- 

 site the Sentinel Bridge. 



American elms as well as black 

 locusts will also be noted in the Old 

 Village. Trees of the latter species 

 will also be found in the pioneer cem- 

 etery (near the Park Museum), in the 

 vicinity of Camp Curry, and along 

 the highway near the start of the 

 Four Mile Trail. The black locusts in 

 the latter place are reminders of the 

 period in Yosemite history when that 

 area was an important public center 

 in the Valley (6). In addition two 

 sugar maples will be found in the 

 Old Village just east of the general 

 store (7). 



photo by Anderson 

 American din uiij hhuk Iih usf in Old Village 



(4) In June 1855 James Mason Hutchings, contemplating the publication of his "California 

 Magazine," visited Yosemite Valley with several companions — among them the artist Thomas 

 Ayres — for the purpose of gathering data and making sketches for publication. This is credited 

 with being the first "tourist visit" to the Valley, since it was prompted wholly by interest in its 

 scenic values. Several earlier journeys had been made to the region but the principal interest 

 in such cases had been that of pursuing Indians, following the Indian trouble of 1850-51, or 

 prospecting. It was from the meager reports of these earlier expeditions that Hutchings' interest 

 was aroused. 



From the time of his first visit Hutchings always had a deep affection for Yosemite. In 1864 

 he purchased the "Upper Hotel" (constructed by Beardsley and Hite in 1857-59), which was 

 located on the south side of the road opposite the present Sentinel Bridge, and rechristened it 

 "Hutchings House." It was later to become famous as Cedar Cottage, a name applied due to 

 the fact that one of the many additions to the original structure was constructed about a large 

 California incense cedar. See Russell, C. P. 100 Years in Yosemite; Stanford University Press; 

 1931. pp. 99-125. 



(5) See Hutchings, J. M. In The Heart of the Sierras; 

 land, California; 1886, pp. 134-138. 



Pacific Press Publishing House, Oak- 



(6) In 1856 Walworth and Hite undertook the construction of the first building designed to 

 serve the needs of early visitors to Yosemite Valley. It occupied a site at the base of Sentinel 

 Rock near the start of the present Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point. Completed in 1857, it thus 

 became the first hotel in this area. In 1869 this original structure was dismantled by A. G. Black 

 w^ho utiUzed the site in the construction of a new hotel. In the same year G. F. Leidig constructed 

 another hotel nearby. Originally the Yosemite Chapel, built in 1879, occupied a place in this 

 area, and the Guardian of the Yosemite Grant was located here for a time. In 1888 all these 

 buildings were razed, with the exception of the Chapel which was moved to its present site in 

 the Old Village. 



(7) These trees mark the site of the photographic studio, operated by Mr. and Mrs. J. T. 

 Boysen, which was located at that point for many years. From information received from Mrs. 

 Ellen St. Clair — daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Boysen — these trees were planted in 1902, 1903, or 

 1904 from stock received from Vermont. 



