Yosemite NP – Wawona Pioneer Yosemite History Center

Introduction:

What? : The Pioneer Yosemite History Center is an assembled collection of historic buildings from Yosemite National Park that is located in Wawona, California. Visitors can walk around the buildings year round

 

 

Where? : Located just off the main park road (Highway 41), 4 miles after entering the park south entrance, at the north side of Wawona Hotel.

Drive to the Store and Pioneer Gift Shop and use the parking lot near the stable.

Cross the covered bridge to the other side of the river and enjoy the old cabins.

Google Map Link

 

When? : Year round. At summertime there are some activities.

 

Due note 1: It is free and always open, restroom is located near the parking lot

 

Due note 2: There is a gas station just on the road between Wawona Hotel and the Yosemite History Center entrances

 

My thoughts: This is a nice stop on your park visit, you can eat your lunch here and enjoy the short easy stroll among the buildings and watch the covered bridge. When I visited here in late Oct. everything was close and I only spent 20 min.

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The visit:

Many of the buildings that make up the Yosemite History Center were moved to Wawona in the 1950s and '60s from various locations throughout the park. These buildings were moved to make way for more modern park facilities and to create an area to interpret Yosemite's history. As you walk here, it is important to remember that the area does not represent a village. Instead, each building represents a different chapter in the Yosemite story.

Outdoor interpretive signs that are located near every building tell the stories behind them.

During the summer the stage wagon and the blacksmith shop are open Wednesday afternoon through Sunday.

 

Wawona’s Covered Bridge dates from the mid-1800s as Galen Clark and Henry Washburn worked to create a road from Wawona to Yosemite Valley. That road was completed in 1875.

 

Wawona Hotel:

Wawona Hotel is one of California's original mountain resort hotels, originally established in 1856 and declared as National Historic Landmark.

There are 50 standard hotel rooms with private bath and 54 standard hotel rooms with shared bathrooms.

There are no pets allowed on property.

https://www.nps.gov/places/000/wawona-hotel.htm

 

www:

https://www.nps.gov/places/000/pioneer-yosemite-history-center.htm

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/pioneer-yosemite-history-center/

 

Additional Pictures: