In the early 1920′s, Stephen Mather, the National Park Service Director, realized that the Park needed accommodations to suit the affluent and influential traveler. The concept of a hotel such as The Ahwahnee® became the impetus to draw such a visitor.
The site for The Ahwahnee, once a village of the native Miwoks, was chosen because of its exposure to the sun and stunning views of Yosemite’s icons – Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point.
In July 1925, Gilbert Stanley Underwood was selected as the architect for Yosemite’s new luxury hotel. Due to its remote location, the construction of The Ahwahnee was the most complex trucking endeavor of its day. Over 5,000 tons of stone, 1,000 tons of steel, and 30,000 feet of timber were hauled over the challenging mountain roads. To protect The Ahwahnee from fire, a fate of many of the Park’s earlier hotels, its wood-like facade is actually concrete, poured into rough-hewn wooden forms and stained to look like redwood.
Today, The Ahwahnee is a major attraction to visitors to Yosemite as they explore this unique relationship of architecture and nature.
The Ahwahnee® Hotel History
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Actually the Miwoks were not the original Indians of Yosemite Valley. They were afraid to enter Yosemite Valley and called the people in the valley “the Killers”. If you read the book “The Discovery of Yosemite”, which is even sold in Yosemite National Park, it states that Chief Tenaya was the FOUNDER of the Paiute colony of Ahwahnee, and that Tenaya spoke Paiute, not Miwok.
Sorry but there were no Yosemite Miwoks,, they were the scouts for the Mariposa Battalion and helped capture the original Yosemite Indians of Ahwahnee. They just stayed and many people believe they are the original Indians, but they were not.
There are actually some nice hikes up at Glacier Point that would be good for the kids. The Taft point hike was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. There are actually also some nice hikes in Toulomne meadows. By the Tioga entrance there’s a trail (Gaylor lakes I think) Wonderful High country lakes. You may also do the mist trail inside valley for waterfall views up Yosemite falls. I’m terrible about names of trails-I’ve been hiking them all my life, but do not use the correct names!
My buddy and I were just discussing this specific topic, she actually is constantly wanting to prove me completely wrong! I am about to present her this write-up and additionally rub it in a little!