One Hundred Years in Yosemite: The Story of a Great Park and Its Friends

by Carl P. Russell

This book about Yosemite National Park comprises the narrative text about the Park from its discovery by non-natives in the Indian War of 1851 to the mid-twentieth century. The printed book contains dozens of early photographs and drawings, as well as an extensive timeline and bibliography, which are not here recorded. The author (1894-1967) was an ecologist, historian, and administrator. He was an officer of the U.S. National Park Service for thirty four years, serving as the Chief Naturalist of Yosemite from 1923-1929 and later as Park Superintendent.

Genres: Nature

269 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1932

About the author

Carl Parcher Russell was a historian, ecologist, and administrator. He joined the National Park Service (NPS) in 1923 as a Naturalist in Yosemite National Park. In 1931 he received a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Michigan. He served as an officer for the NPS for 34 years, from 1923 until his retirement in 1957. He was the Chief Naturalist of Yosemite from 1923 to 1929. He specialized in frontier history, studying its material culture in minute detail, and documented pioneer life for the NPS and others.

Dr. Russell served in several regional positions in the NPS, including NPS Chief Naturalist of Yosemite (1923–1929), regional director, and Yosemite National Park Superintendent. Dr. Russell retired from the park service in 1957.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russell's history of Yosemite National Park is informative and comprehensive. The edition I read was published in the early 1950s, evident in the discussion of Native Californians who are described as "savages" and essentially nuisances to white explorers and entrepreneurs who aimed to claim parts of the park as their own. This made sections of the book difficult to read. Russell, a former YNP superintendent, also writes in a stilted style -- common for the time period in which the book was published -- which slows the reading a bit. However, for someone who is interested in Yosemite's evolution, the book provides a solid history and notes the innovations that also made their way into other national parks.

[Brian Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched, and I enjoyed the book. Not fair to the author, but I'm disappointed that the American Indians, original inhabitants of Yosemite, were expelled and the settlers then moved to inhabit and protect their new surroundings.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Very informative and a good read.

[Laura Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Checked it out for my annual camping trip in Yosemite Valley, and read it between hikes and campfires. The human history of the Valley is a subject every visitor to the area should dive into - Jim Savage, Chief Tenaya, Lafayette Bunnell - the region is absolutely steeped in history from it's "discovery" by whites, to the relocation of the Miwok, to the booming mining era and immediate early hoteliers. Learn about the genesis of the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior, and Abe Lincoln's protecting of the area 150 years ago. John Muir makes intermittent appearances, and I would like to learn more about him, but the early history is incredibly well-researched and delivered - made even more fascinating that this book was written nearly 100 years ago by Carl Russell, an early naturalist of the park. An excellent foray into Yosemite's history for those not otherwise well-read on the subject. This definitely belongs in the historical canon of America's Western expansion. An excellent piece of American studies and worth a re-read in the future.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yosemite is one of my favorite places. I have been going there every year for as long as I remember. It was fun to read the history surrounding this National Park. An added bonus for me was that I actually read this book while I was in Yosemite.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, both as history and as artifact. Originally published in 1932 but updated several times, it is interesting how the "present day" feels, in context. Lots of interesting material on Savage, and the Mariposa "Battalion", as well as some history of Mt. Conness in the mapping of the region.

[Janelle]

Dnf. The Librivox narrator read too quickly for me.