Art

Yosemite has long inspired the artist in us. California native people connect creative expression with the natural fabric of Yosemite, producing masterpieces that can only be made here. Illustrators were among the earliest European American explorers in the Valley, and it wasn’t long after that artists of all kinds were bringing their visions of Yosemite to the world. The emerging art of photography found a home here. Photographers laboriously dragged tons of delicate, cumbersome equipment over steep mountain passes, allowing people around the world to see wonders like Half Dome and Nevada Fall. Many immediately resolved to travel there themselves. The very idea of national parks grew alongside this art. Pioneers of photography found their muses here, and in turn helped sell nature conservation to America.

Even while in the midst of the natural beauty of Yosemite, travelers cherish the art made by other people. Art studios proliferated in the first Yosemite National Park villages. Visitors could buy paintings of Yosemite Falls while still drying off from the water’s spray or get a souvenir from a mobile stereograph studio. This tradition continues, with studios offering not just art for sale, but photography classes and tours as well.

Today, with cameras in their pockets, many travelers make their own art while exploring the park. Souvenir shops offer mementos for casual collectors as well as art connoisseurs. From historic lithographs to family snapshots, art is integral to the Yosemite National Park experience.

 

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