Loading map...

1909 Map of Yosemite

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Yosemite
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

Yosemite National Park and the surrounding Sierra National Forest are shown here as they appeared during the transition into the early twentieth century. This sheet documents the landscape before the total flooding of the Hetch Hetchy Valley, noting both the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the Lake Eleanor Reservoir. Early infrastructure is visible through a network of ranger stations such as the Tuolumne Grove Ranger Sta and Gentry Ranger Sta, alongside established settlements like El Portal and Wawona.

Genealogists and local historians can trace legacy holdings including the Harden Ranch, Crockers, and Hodgdon Ranch. The map also preserves the locations of several groves of ancient giants, including the Mariposa Grove Big Trees and Tuolumne Grove Big Trees. Topography by R.B. Marshall highlights iconic landmarks like Half Dome and Mount Hoffmann, providing a look at the region’s development from a primary wilderness to a managed national preserve.