Students Help Yosemite Celebrate 125 Years
Yosemite, CA — Around 1,500 people came out to celebrate Yosemite National Park’s 125th anniversary.
A ceremony was held Thursday at the Yosemite Valley Visitors Center. 400 of those on hand were area students. The event included a living history portrayal of John Muir, a Native American blessing, and songs.
10-year-old Gabriel Lavan-Ying of Flordia, who became an honorary park ranger back in 2014 via the Make-A-Wish Foundation, served as the Honorary Chairman of the event.
Yosemite officials report there were presentations of artwork from schools, anniversary cakes, and commemorative posters created for the special occasion. Delaware North, the parks concessioner, and Yosemite Conservancy, the park’s philanthropic partner, also presented checks to the local schools to support many programs.
Park Superintendent Don Neubacher stated, “It is wonderful to see all of the students here, who will be preserving and protecting Yosemite National Park for the next 125 years and beyond.”
On October 1, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the legislation creating Yosemite National Park. The creation of Yosemite National Park added protected land to the existing Yosemite Grant Act of 1864. This landmark law protected Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
