Yosemite Valley Historic Marker Photo by Ray Bouknight / Flickr (use permitted with attribution).
1864 Yosemite Valley 1964
On June 30, 1864 the United States granted the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the state of California to "be held for public use, resort, and recreation ... inalienable for all time."
This Act, signed by president Abraham Lincoln, was the first federal authorization to preserve scenic and scientific values for public benefit. It was the basis for the later concept of state and national park systems. In 1906 the state of California returned the land, considered the first state park in the country, so that it could become part of Yosemite National Park.
CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 790
Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the California History Commission and the National Park Service in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant, June 30, 1964.