October 1, 1890 - Congress Votes to Protect Yosemite Valley
Congress votes to set aside almost 1,200 square miles in Yosemite Valley, Calif., as "reserved forest lands." The legislation calls for regulations to "provide for the preservation from injury of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders within said reservation, and their retention in their natural condition." By the 1990's. Yosemite National Park will draw more than 4 million visitors a year.
Related resources:
- Summary of the 1890 Legislation (Library of Congress)
- Yosemite National Park (National Park Service)
