Yosemite Village - The People of Ahwahnee

Photo: Almonroth, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

A stop on Yosemite Valley, a free self-guided tour.

This is the hub of the valley. The Yosemite Exploration Center, the former Valley Visitor Center, has rangers, maps and hands-on exhibits about the park's wildlife, meadows and people. It's the best place to check today's conditions and the shuttle schedule; hours vary, so check nps.gov.

Next door, the Yosemite Museum and the outdoor Indian Village of Ahwahnee behind it tell the story of the people who lived here first. For thousands of years the Ahwahneechee made their homes on the valley floor, gathering acorns from black oaks, using fire to keep meadows open, and trading across the Sierra. In 1851 the Mariposa Battalion, a state-backed militia, rode into the valley to force them out, the first well-documented visit by outsiders. Descendants of Yosemite's Native families still live in the region today.

Walk the short village loop to see bark houses and acorn granaries, then explore the village for food, groceries and the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Getting here: Walk east about half a mile on the path from Lower Yosemite Fall, or ride the free shuttle to the Yosemite Village stop.

Did you know?: The name Yosemite was suggested in 1851 by Lafayette Bunnell, a doctor riding with the Mariposa Battalion.

Photo op: In the Indian Village behind the museum, frame the bark houses with the granite cliffs rising above them.

Nearby: Restrooms, water, groceries and several places to eat in Yosemite Village.

More on Wikipedia: Yosemite Valley · Ahwahnechee · Lafayette Bunnell · Ansel Adams

Yosemite Village - The People of Ahwahnee

Stops on this tour