Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
A Storied Landscape
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 18, 2013
1. A Storied Landscape Marker
Photograph Captions: (bottom left) American Indians gather acorns from oak trees and use bedrock mortars to pound them into flour. They harvest milkweed, deergrass, and bracken fern. (Mary pounding acorn, Yosemite Valley, c. 1913; (top right) Off in the distance, you can see where German immigrant George Meyer built two barns in the early 1880s. The National Park Service restored them in 1996. They feature hand-hewn timbers, peeled logs, fieldstone foundations, and hand-split sugar pine roof shakes.
Inscription.
A Storied Landscape. . The open vista below you, Big Meadows, has many stories to share. American Indians have been using this area for thousands of years. It was also center of activity for some of the first Euro-American settlers. By 1874, the Coulterville and Yosemite Turnpike Company completed the first wagon road over this rugged terrain into Yosemite Valley. This road provided an important route for commerce and tourism. At one time, a stage stop welcomed weary travelers as the historic Meyer homestead below.
The open vista below you, Big Meadows, has many stories to share. American Indians have been using this area for thousands of years. It was also center of activity for some of the first Euro-American settlers. By 1874, the Coulterville and Yosemite Turnpike Company completed the first wagon road over this rugged terrain into Yosemite Valley. This road provided an important route for commerce and tourism. At one time, a stage stop welcomed weary travelers as the historic Meyer homestead below.
Erected by Yosemite Fund.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.
Location. 37° 44.37′ N, 119° 46.018′ W. Marker is in Yosemite National Park, California, in Mariposa County. Marker is on Big Oak Flat Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yosemite National Park CA 95389, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker is located at the Big Meadow Overlook.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 18, 2013
2. A Storied Landscape Marker
Photographed By Richard Denney, November 25, 2013
3. A Storied Landscape Marker
Another view of the marker with Meyer's Barns and Big Meadow in background.
Photographed By Richard Denney, November 25, 2013
4. Meyer's Barns and Big Meadow
Panoramic view of Meyer's Barns, Big Meadow and surrounding area. Notice burned forest from the "Rim Fire" of 2013.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 18, 2013
5. The Meyer's Barns and Big Meadow From the Overloook
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 448 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 28, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3, 4. submitted on November 29, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 5. submitted on May 28, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.