Celebrating the Mariposa Grove

Celebrating the Mariposa Grove. Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias — Yosemite National Park. , Trees Worthy of a Nation's Protection, June 30,1864 , In the midst of the Civil War President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act. This established Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove as the first federally protected wild places in the nation., This visionary act, the first time in history that a tract of wild land was set aside by a government to preserve it for the enjoyment of all its citizens, planted the seed of an idea that would spread around the world , that the wonders of nature are not only our inheritance, but also our responsibility., Inspiring the National Park Idea , The idea of protecting wild places for the enjoyment of everyone has since taken root, and now the National Park Service protects more than 400 sites, including Yosemite, for this and future generations., Generations of Stewardship , American Indians have stewarded the Mariposa Grove for over 3000 years, including using fire to manage giant sequoia habitat. Contemporary tribal groups maintain vibrant cultural and spiritual connections to the Mariposa Grove and partner with the National Park Service in the protection of this sacred landscape., The California State Park system was created in 1864 as a result of passage of the Yosemite Grant. Management of the Grove later shifted from the state of California to the US Army Cavalry and finally to the National Park Service in 1916.