Wawona in Mariposa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Wawona Hotel

Photographed by Richard Denney, November 24, 2013

1. Wawona Hotel Marker

Inscription. After several pioneer lodging structures were destroyed by fire, Henry Washburn and John Bruce had this building, opened in April, 1879, erected. Bruce died in it in 1882, but Henry, John, Edward, and later Clarence Washburn owned and operated it until November of 1932 when the property was sold to the National Park Service. Yosemite Park and Curry Co. operated the hotel from 1932 to October 1, 1993 when Yosemite Concession Services began its contract to serve park guests.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1879.

Location. 37° 32.207′ N, 119° 39.307′ W. Marker is in Wawona, California, in Mariposa County. It is on Wawona Road. Marker is located to the right of the stairs of the Wawona Hotel main building,. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8308 Wawona Road, Yosemite National Park CA 95389, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s

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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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Art of Thomas Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Sustaining the Mariposa Grove (approx. 3.4 miles away); Celebrating the Mariposa Grove (approx. 3.4 miles away); A New Vision for an Ancient Grove (approx. 3.4 miles away); The Surviving Tunnel Tree (approx. 3.4 miles away); Enduring Giant (approx. 3.8 miles away); Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad (approx. 5.8 miles away); William M. Sell Jr. Memorial Bridge (approx. 8.3 miles away).

Also see . . . National Historic Landmarks in Yosemite. National Park Service webpage detailing National Historic Landmarks in Yosemite, which include the Wawona Hotel and Thomas Hill Studio (Submitted on December 3, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.)

Photographed by Richard Denney, November 24, 2013

2. Wawona Hotel Marker

Marker is to the right of the bottom stairs.

Thomas Hill Studio Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Denney, November 24, 2013

3. Thomas Hill Studio Display

Informational sign on the Thomas Hill Studio, part of the larger Wawona building complex.

Thomas Hill Studio image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Denney, November 24, 2013

4. Thomas Hill Studio

Wawona Hotel (main building) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Denney, November 24, 2013

5. Wawona Hotel (main building)

Wawona Hotel image. Click for full size.

6. Wawona Hotel

Close-up of photo on marker

Henry Washburn image. Click for full size.

7. Henry Washburn

Photo in the Wawona Hotel.

Albert Henry Washburn image. Click for full size.

8. Albert Henry Washburn

Photo in the Wawona Hotel

Wawona Hotel Fountains image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 5, 2015

9. Wawona Hotel Fountains

Restored October 1, 2011,through a grant from the Yosemite conservancy with the generous support of The Pigott Family Peter F. Hilf, Honoring his daughter, Mia Gabriella Hilf. DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc.

George Monroe, 1834 — 1886 image. Click for full size.

10. George Monroe, 1834 — 1886

Stage Driver for the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike company hired by John Bruce in 1866, he was an expert horse handler and highly valued for the care and safety with which he delivered guests and goods to Yosemite from the surrounding areas. George Monroe was credited with driving stages that delivered celebrity passengers as General Ulysses S. Grant, Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and James Garfield, as well as actress Lily Langtree, The “Jersey Lily”.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 5, 2015

11. Wawona Hotel

Wawona Hotel<br>and Thomas Hill Studio image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 5, 2015

12. Wawona Hotel
and Thomas Hill Studio

has been designated a
-----------------
National
Historic Landmark
-----------------
This site possesses national significance
in commemorating the history of the
United States of America

1987
National Park Service
United States Department of the Interior

National Landmark Plaque<br>at the Wawona Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 5, 2015

13. National Landmark Plaque
at the Wawona Hotel

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 5, 2015

14. Galen Clark

Sculpture inside the Wawona Hotel.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,478 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 3, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on June 7, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.