Lynch - California State Park Rangers, CA

Galen Clarks appointment as the first state guardian of Yosemite in May 1866 started 40 years of state park operation at Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees.

Clark was an ideal choice for the guardian job. He was an outdoorsman and an early explorer of the Yosemite region. He is credited with being the first person not of Native American descent to discover the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees. His knowledge of the area was vast, and he was prominent in influencing those responsible for establishing Yosemite as a park.

Clark started work with an eight-page letter of instruction from the Yosemite board of commissioners. Among the instructions was the directive that he strictly enforce the new state laws enacted to protect the park. In addition, trails and bridges were to be kept in order. Clark was also given broad authority to prevent either visitors and settlers from doing anything which would tend to impair the present picturesque appearance of the Valley. Clark was to also take charge of the Native Americans in Yosemite and to curb their practice of burning off large areas of the valley. Finally, Clark was to make sure that the early Yosemite settlers submitted to the authority of the commission. This duty was one that grew quite messy and drawn out. It took eight years and a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve the issue in favor of the authority of the guardian and commission.

Clarks assignment was daunting, but he was authorized to appoint a sub-guardian, or deputy ranger, to assist him. Clark named Yosemite Valley resident and pioneer Peter Longhurst as the first sub-guardian of Yosemite. The commission wanted Clark and Longhurst to be on duty at all times during the visitor season.

In total, seven men would serve as state guardians at Yosemite from 1866 to 1906. It was in 1906 that Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove were returned to federal control to become part of Yosemite National Park. With more or less success, all the guardians faced the responsibility to protect the park, greet and educate the public, provide public facilities, maintain the peace, and generally administer the area.

Galen Clark was appointed state guardian of Yosemite on May 21, 1866. Clark was Californias and the nations first park ranger. Clark is pictured here on patrol near Nevada Falls. Just off this trail, Clarks Point was named after the first and most renowned guardian of Yosemite. Clark would serve two terms and a total of 22 years as guardian. (Courtesy of YNPRL.)

Galen Clark was an early explorer and homesteader in the Yosemite region. In 1855, he was among the earliest white men to enter Yosemite Valley. Clark is credited as being the first person not of Native American descent to discover the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees in 1857. This picture was taken in front of the Grizzly Giant in 1858 or 1859. (Courtesy of YNPRL; photograph by Carleton E. Watkins.)

On June 30, 1864, at the height of the Civil War, Pres. Abraham Lincoln took time to sign a bill that had glided through Congress with little fanfare. Carried by California Sen. John Conness, the bill provided that Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove were granted to the State of California ... [with] the express condition that the premises shall be held for public use, resort and recreation ... inalienable for all time. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress.)

As the new guardian, Galen Clark was given an eight-page letter of instruction regarding his duties. He was to protect and administer the new park, pacify Yosemites Native Americans, strictly enforce the new state laws enacted to protect the park, and prepare the park for public use. Clark is pictured here with some of the many tourists who soon flocked to Yosemite. (Courtesy of YNPRL.)

Galen Clark was an active supporter of protecting Yosemite and the Mariposa Grove. After the enactment of federal legislation in 1864, Gov. Frederick F. Low immediately appointed Clark, Frederick Law Olmsted, and six others to a provisional Yosemite commission. Clarks days of lazing in the beauty of Yosemite Valley, as he is pictured here, would end with his appointment as guardian. (Courtesy of YNPRL.)