The Yosemite Museum
The Yosemite Museum is located in Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park in California. Founded in 1926 through the efforts of Ansel Franklin Hall[1], the museum’s displays focus on the heritage and culture of the Ahwaneechee people who lived in the valley. Exhibits include historic photographs, baskets, tools, articles of clothing, and life-size dioramas.
Behind the museum is a reconstructed outdoor “Indian Village of Ahwahnee”.
The adjacent Yosemite Valley Visitor Center features exhibits about the park’s geology, wildlife, Native American and other settlers, John Muir, and park history.
The Yosemite Valley has long been recognized as one of nature’s true wonders. Its beauty has drawn artists from all over the world for well over 100 years. This museum displays a collection of works by such artists, all selected by a jury. The works include a variety of styles and range from old to contemporary. In addition to the paintings, the gallery features historical exhibits, which change from time to time. The museum as a whole gives a good visual sense of Yosemite through the ages.
The Yosemite Museum collection documents the cultural and natural history of the Yosemite region including an extensive library on archeology, history, photography, fine arts, ethnography, archival records, botany, zoology and geology.
The Research Library contains published volumes and a wealth of unpublished material relating to the park’s history. The museum, research library and visuals center collections include photographs, ranging from some of the earliest taken of Yosemite.
Fine arts are also represented with the work of Thomas Hill, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, William Keith and Thomas Ayres, among others.
The ethnographic collection includes artifacts from the Yosemite area including basketry, dance regalia, featherwork, beadwork and utilitarian objects.
Archeological materials recovered through controlled excavation in the park and historic artifacts relating to all facets of park history, are also included.
A herbarium, and other natural history specimens are also in the collection.