Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Visitors at Mirror Lake

Photographed By Eric Polk, June 2008

1. Visitors at Mirror Lake Marker

Click on photo to view historical photos, drawings and captions.

Inscription. The opening of Yosemite to tourism in the 1850s coincided with America's glorification of nature and fascination with the picturesque. Early accounts of Mirror Lake are full of such sentiments. Visitors today still express many of the same emotions when they encounter such natural splendor.

Naming the Land From the earliest days here, Euro-Americans began to leave their mark on Yosemite. The kept a few of the Ahwahneechee place names but added new ones for many of the magnificent landscape features. Fanciful notions gave us place names such as Cloud's Rest, Royal Arches, Cathedral Peak, Happy Isles, and Bridalveil Fall.

Tisseyak (woman turn to stone) became Half Dome, Ahwiyah (quiet water) became Mirror Lake, Cholok (the fall) became Yosemite Falls, and Weiyow (juniper mountain) became Mt. Watkins.

Erected by Yosemite Fund.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Native Americans.

Location. 37° 44.912′ N, 119° 33.033′ W. Marker is in Yosemite National Park, California, in Mariposa County. The marker is located on the Mirror Lake trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yosemite National Park CA 95389, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles

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of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bracken Fern and Baskets (within shouting distance of this marker); Selling the Sublime (within shouting distance of this marker); A Seasonal Lake (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mirror Lake Resources (about 500 feet away); Natural Dam (about 600 feet away); Happy Isles Gaging Station (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Ahwahnee Porte Cochere (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Grand Lodge (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yosemite National Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2015, by Eric Polk of Lakewood, California. This page has been viewed 339 times since then and 17 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on March 26, 2015, by Eric Polk of Lakewood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide area view of the marker and its surroundings. • Photo of Mirror Lake. • Can you help?