Tourism Accommodations in Yosemite in the 1800s

Guest Post by KyLee Woodley

Public Health Service at work in the national parks, 1960s. National Library of Medicine #101547480

John Muir

Although national parks grew in popularity following World War Two, due to economic prosperity, increased leisure time, and the rise of the automobile, more than seventy years earlier, people were trekking into the woods in the summers to experience the natural wonders of our nation. Yosemite, which spans an impressive 759,620 acres and offers breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems, stands out as one of the most beloved national parks. Naturalist John Muir, often called the “Father of the National Parks,” said, “Yosemite Park is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands, in which one gains the advantages of both solitude and society.” But what good is having such lovely views if you cannot reach this place of solitude?

C. 1863 improved Lower Hotel

Two pioneers by the names of Walworth and Hite catered to Yosemite visitors when they established a hotel near Yosemite Falls. Construction began in 1856 yet was left unfinished until the following year. However, another hotel had been built farther up the Merced River, so the first was called Lower Hotel and the latter Upper Hotel. The Lower Hotel was constructed of white cedar planks split from logs. In the early days, it was little more than a large building with rooms divided by sheets. In his book To San Francisco and Back, Parson A. London described the hotels as “…very rough. When G——— and I were shown to our bedroom the first night, we found that it consisted of a quarter of a shed screened off by split planks…[with] no window, but we could see the stars through the roof. The door, opening out into the forest, was fastened with cow-hinges of skin with the hair on, and a little leather strap which hooked on to a nail.” There were not even beds. These early days remind me of camping.

The Lower Hotel was still in operation in 1875 with a new owner and a new name, Black’s Hotel. Naturalist John Muir wrote to a friend who was staying there, and he had this to say about the area and its visitors: “The Valley is lovely, scarce more than a whit the worse for the flower-crushing feet that every summer brings…Yet I find some fine and good-looking people among them.” He is referring to the tourists, and I cannot help but admire his kind regard when many a naturalist would be happy to shun intruders upon nature.

Sentinel Hotel (left background) by Thomas Hill

Above is the Sentinel Hotel, surrounded by other lodges and houses. This photograph, taken around 1875, inspired one of the final scenes in my book, The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender. Even in the black-and-white portrayal, you can almost hear the thunderous crash of the waterfall as it descends to the ground in the distance and feel the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees overhead. Sadly, many of these historic structures have been lost to time, but a few still stand in Yosemite and other national parks, preserving a glimpse of the past.

KyLee Woodley is a cheery romantic who loves to write about bygone days and heartwarming romance with a pinch of adventure. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three teenage children. On weekends, KyLee hosts the Historical Bookworm Show, a steadily growing interview podcast. Her latest release, The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender, is about an expecting widow, a rugged bounty hunter, and a set of secrets that might shatter her fragile heart. Set in a French chateau in the California countryside, this historical romance will appeal to readers who enjoy stories by Tamara Alexander and Mary Connealy.

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