At first glance, Yosemite’s natural beauty is easy to observe. Beyond all that beauty lies a story about different people in Yosemite, whis is written on the very same landscape. It tells that story of how different culture created what we now know as Yosemite National Park. This parks unique human history paints a picture of the conflict, dreams, diversity, hardships, adventures, and preservation of what life was really like in one of the world’s first national parks, Yosemite. The history of the people in Yosemite dates back thousands of years. People like the American Indians have been using this area for travel since the Ice Age glaciers receded. Even today these descendants remain an important part of Yosemite’s ancient history. The
Muir and Roosevelt went to Yosemite and both realized that they had the same goal save the parks. First, they had to get there but how? President Roosevelt reached out to Muir to ask him if he would join him for a camping trip and be his guide “I don’t want anyone with me but you” Roosevelt said. Muir explained to Roosevelt that people were destroying these trees and wanted to save them.
This anthropocentric theme continues throughout his narrative but is personified on a societal level. This matter is first introduced in the chapter “Polemic: Industrial Tourism and The National Parks.” In this chapter Abbey notes the expansionist nature of the industrial economy and how it is affecting the national parks. Abbey critiques arguments for uni...
Robertson, David. “A Secret Yosemite.” Uelsmann Yosemite. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 1996. Print.
The setting of the essay is Los Angeles in the 1800’s during the Wild West era, and the protagonist of the story is the brave Don Antonio. One example of LA’s Wild West portrayal is that LA has “soft, rolling, treeless hills and valleys, between which the Los Angeles River now takes its shilly-shallying course seaward, were forest slopes and meadows, with lakes great and small. This abundance of trees, with shining waters playing among them, added to the limitless bloom of the plains and the splendor of the snow-topped mountains, must have made the whole region indeed a paradise” (Jackson 2). In the 1800’s, LA is not the same developed city as today. LA is an undeveloped land with impressive scenery that provides Wild West imagery. One characteristic of the Wild West is the sheer commotion and imagery of this is provided on “the first breaking out of hostilities between California and the United States, Don Antonio took command of a company of Los Angeles volunteers to repel the intruders” (15). This sheer commotion is one of methods of Wild West imagery Jackson
There exists the Dome of Yosemite by Albert Bierstadt, with dramatic rock outcroppings, the sun burst...
It is a sad comparison to the past John Muir, who first documented Yosemite Valley, to today’s reality. The condition of Yosemite National Park should be introduced to the American public in order to protect its historic beauty and significance, eliminate current pollution, and prevent future repercussions. In
Adams' love for Yosemite was portrayed through his elegant words and pure black and white images of the valley. The natural beauty of Yosemite was shared with the world through his images of unspoiled rushing streams, raging waterfalls, crystal clear lakes, lone trees and high sierra mountain peaks. In the combination of his photographs and writings, Adams demonstrated "that those who appreciate the earth's wild places have a duty and responsibility to use them wisely and well...
“To discover, understand, and encounter the cultures and intricate natures of the California Indian people, it is necessary to search the past” –Nancy Wahl. Tracing back in California history, Spanish explorers, commanded by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, found the tip of what is now Baja California in the year 1533 and named it "California" after a mythical island in a popular Spanish novel. It is evident that from the time Spanish monarchs set foot in California, the world as Native Americans knew it was never the same again. The late 1700s initiated and marked the colonization of Spaniards in the “Golden State” which in turn provoked the massive persecution and extermination of Native American population as well as the disappearance of Native heritage and culture. As a result, the recurring despairs and adversities of the Indian population began.
There are innumerable examples of Montana's good qualities, far too many to name all of them, but several of these examples are the recreation, history and beauty of Montana. Recreation in Montana includes sports like biking, skiing, hiking, and a many more outdoor recreational activities. The wide open areas create almost endless possibilities for outdoor recreation, and the relatively small population decreases the clutter along lakes, trails, streams, and other venues for recreation. Also, the small population and large open spaces have a preserving effect on Montana's historical buildings, monuments, and other objects of historical significance and interest. Montana is able to keep these historical sites safe because demand for these sites both for industrialization and by the general population is not too great. The small population and large open areas also allow for a broad range of wildlife habitation, which is excellent for both recreational activities like hunting and fishing and for wildlife viewing. Montana's beautiful and varied landscapes are also remarkable to view. The towering, craggy mountains; vast, spectacular forests; massive, grassy plains; and numerous lakes, rivers, and streams, many of which are very sparsely populated, are magnificent to behold. All these pleasurable aspects of Montana are direct results of its generally rural environment and would not be possible without this characteristic. It is evident that those who love Montana are most likely in love with its rural setting.
Yosemite and its history, young to old the story of an area of land that is doomed to be mined, forcibly stripped naked of its natural resources. In 1864 Yosemite land grant was signed into act by president Abraham Lincoln, the first area of land set aside for preservation and protection. Yosemite being a very important historical plot of land, some time ago president Theodore Roosevelt visited the park managing to disappear from the secret service with John Muir. Through the years the contrast of ideas between the industrialists and the preservationists have clashed, Yosemite’s history both interesting and mysterious but more importantly inevitable .
Everyone’s experience is not all the same similarly to the Grand Canyon situation that is mentioned by Percy. The individual needs to be taken into consideration. Like with me, I went to many tourists spots, such as the Valley of Ten Peaks, that are talked among many people that and have been influenced by the media, but when I got their I was left speechless by the sight of the of the Peaks. This experience is a counter point Percy’s idea, that prejudges of situations can skew the perspective of people. Percy states “[a tourist] Does not one see the same sight from the Bright Angel Lodge that Cardenas saw” (Percy 464). This quote explains how people cannot see the true beauty of a sight with these expectations that block it for us. Most of the time I have had my expectations of a sight given to me by media or other people lessen my experiences in life. This occurs because how much someone is willing to let so...
Every year, over nine million hikers and adventure seekers travel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park making it the most visited national park in the United States. There are abundant reasons for this, but many popular reasons include over 150 hiking trails extending over 850 miles, a large portion of the Appalachian Trail, sightseeing, fishing, horseback riding, and bicycling. The park houses roughly ten thousand species of plants and animals with an estimated 90,000 undocumented species likely possible to be present. It is clear why there was a pressing interest in making all this land into a national park. My research was started by asking the question; how did the transformation of tourism due to the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park affect surrounding cities such as Gatlinburg and Sevier County, and in return, its effect on the popularity of the park?
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold is a detailed primary source that offers the reader an extensive viewpoint on the relationship between humans and nature. Aldo Leopold’s desire in his thesis is to present his infamous theory on Land Ethics, which states the preservationist viewpoint about the obligation humans have of protecting the land in which they inhabit. Specifically, Leopold makes an observation about the harm of recreational activities and the impact of human nature that he wants his readers to note. Even though the relationship between humans and nature has been conjoining, society continues to do more harm than it does good. While nature works with humans in order to survive, humans attempt to dominate what they can control and
Humans experience a pull to nature that is difficult to put into words. This attraction is apparent in numerous aspects of society and is felt by many. Even I wonder how to justify my desire to travel so far simply to spend a day on the beach. Examples of this attraction are not difficult to find. Many people seek vacations in tropical places, real estate near water is extremely expensive, a walk in the woods can be thought of as calming or even peaceful, and National Parks are preserved to allow people to experience the true beauty of nature.
For many decades California holds the title as being the best Arcadian environment out there. Starr as well as many other authors have commented on how humans have always had “a respectful closeness to nature”(13), locating and adventuring out into some of the most beautiful places our earth encapsulates. All over California these places are evident from the beautiful redwoods to the Sacramento mountain ranges, the dream of a natural paradise is obtainable. Whether you want to go fishing, surfing, kayaking, or hiking , it is up to you to decide, for many imagining this dream is easy. As we approach the top of the hill shimmering with reflections of crisp green forest trees and wildlife roaming in all directions the quaint bungalow appears. Surrounded by open blue skies and rugged dirt trails this home is among the many hidden treasures that still exist today. The bright and airy porch containing two small white rocking chairs, perfect for a small cup of tea and a good book. As you enter the house the smell of pine and citrus fill the air bringing back memories of last summer’s adventures. Many aspects of California art and Chicano Park in particular expose the dream of a natural Arcadia. While some pieces endorse the dream others threaten the dream, and every once in a while you will find a piece that simultaneously accomplishes both.