Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
James Hutchings
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 15, 2013
1. James Hutchings Marker
Photo captions: (top, right) James Hutchings (center) is pictured here with his son Willie and daughter Gertrude “Cosie” Hutchings, in front of their cabin, c. 1890; (bottom left) En route to the valley in 1902, Hutchings was killed in a carriage accident. You can visit the family burial site in the Pioneer Cemetery in Yosemite Village; (background) “Upstairs, the rooms (at Hutchings House) were only divided by pieces of cotton cloth and were very small in that... Fanny J’s soap slipped from her fingers when washing and flew into the parlor.” – A New England guest, June 1864; (bronze relief on left) Writer Helen Hunt Jackson called James Hutchings “an enthusiast, a dreamer, a visionary... all this is plainly to be seen in his mobile, artistic face, and in the affectionate ring of every word that he speaks of the Valley.”
After bringing the first tourists to Yosemite Valley, James Hutchings established Hutchings House in 1864. Using the boardinghouse know-how of his mother-in-law, he and his wife launched a career as Yosemite innkeepers. Hutchings was a gracious host, whose charm made up for the lack of amenities in his hotel.Pioneer and Entrepreneur
James Hutchings built a family cabin directly in view of Yosemite Falls. It was located adjacent to the apple orchard he planted across the way, which still bears fruit after 150 years. Here, his family raised produce and livestock to feed the hotel guests. Where you are standing now, a smoke house once cured meat.
Erected by Yosemite Fund.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 37° 44.787′ N, 119° 35.555′ W. Marker is in Yosemite National Park, California, in Mariposa County. Marker can be reached from Northside Drive, on the right when traveling west. This marker is located on the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Early Tourism (here, next to this marker); The Ahwahneechee (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Old Yosemite Village (approx. ¼ mile away); The Story of Half Dome (approx. ¼ mile away); Reawakening the Meadow (approx. ¼ mile away); John Muir... The Woodcutter (approx. 0.3 miles away); Big Tree (approx. 0.3 miles away); A Home for Rangers (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yosemite National Park.
Also see . . . James and Elvira Hutchings - Yosemite National Park. James and Elvira Hutchings offered a soft bed to Yosemite’s earliest travelers. The pioneer couple owned and operated a busy Valley hotel, the Hutchings House, beginning in 1864, for more than a decade. (Submitted on May 25, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 20, 2013
2. James Hutchings Marker
The Hutchings marker is the second, more distant marker. The closer marker is entitled "Early Tourism."
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 15, 2013
3. Yosemite Falls from the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 25, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
