Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
A View Through Time
Tunnel View - Yosemite National Park
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
1. A View Through Time Marker
(Photo caption - middle photo at the bottom of the marker)
Lafayette Bunnell, a member of the Mariposa Battalion, gave names to many of the Valleys prominent rock formations. He later wrote a book about his first impressions of Yosemite.
(Photo caption - photo on the right side of the marker)
In this 1855 drawing, Valley from Artists Point, Thomas Ayres captured the open, park-like nature of Yosemite Valley as it looked in the mid-19th century.
Lafayette Bunnell, a member of the Mariposa Battalion, gave names to many of the Valleys prominent rock formations. He later wrote a book about his first impressions of Yosemite.
(Photo caption - photo on the right side of the marker)
In this 1855 drawing, Valley from Artists Point, Thomas Ayres captured the open, park-like nature of Yosemite Valley as it looked in the mid-19th century.
A Burning Tradition
Miwok people, who called themselves Ahwahneechee, lived in Yosemite Valley for thousands of years. Their traditional practice of regularly burning the meadows and oak woodlands of the Valley contributed to the open landscape first seen by the Mariposa Battalion.
“The whole valley had the appearance of park-like grounds, with trees, shrubbery, flowers and lawns.”
Lafayette Bunnell, 1880.
From this breathtaking viewpoint into Yosemite Valley, you can see three of its remarkable features: El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall. In March 1851 a local militia (known as the Mariposa Battalion) was dispatched to the area in search of Miwok people suspected of attacking a trading post. The group stumbled upon this view and became the first Euro-Americans to enter Yosemite Valley.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1851.
Location. 37° 43.296′ N, 119° 38.886′ W. Marker is in Yosemite National Park, California, in Mariposa County. It can be reached from Southside Drive, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yosemite National Park CA 95389, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Yosemite Valley's First Visit by White Men (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . . Mariposa Indian War, 1850-1851 - The California State Military Museum. On March 19, 1851, the Commissioners signed a treaty at Camp Fremont with six tribes. However, the Yosemites (Miwok) and Chowchillas (Yokut) were absent, so the campaign against them began on March 19. The companies of Boling and Dill moved against the Yosemites, and discovered their valley on March 27. However, the battalion was forced to march in 3- to 5-foot snow drifts and in rain and sleet and found few Indians. (Submitted on May 28, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 19, 2013
2. A View Through Time Marker
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
3. A View of the Valley and Bridalvail Falls
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
4. Half Dome
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
5. View from the Overlook
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
6. View from the Overlook
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
7. A View from the Valley
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
8. A View from the Valley
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
9. A View from the Valley
Photographed by Don Morfe, July 9, 2009
10. A View of Many of the Waterfalls Seen From the Valley
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 3, 2015
11. Valley from Artist's Point
In this 1855 drawing, Valley from Artists Point, Thomas Ayres captured the open, park-like nature of Yosemite Valley as it looked in the mid-19th century. Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 3, 2015
12. Lafayette Bunnell
Lafayette Bunnell, a member of the Mariposa Battalion, gave names to many of the Valleys prominent rock formations. He later wrote a book about his first impressions of Yosemite. Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed by Lafayette Bunnell, 1892
13. View of The Yosemite
Looking up the valley from a height of about 1,000 feet above the Merced River, and above sea level 5,000 feet, giving some faint idea of the beauty, grandeur and magnitude of this magnificent work of nature -- From Discovery of the Yosemite by Lafayette Bunnell.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 3, 2015
14. A View Through Time
Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,035 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on May 28, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on March 3, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on June 8, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
