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Studying, sharing and learning from Yosemite’s long human history.

People have lived in and traveled through the area now known as Yosemite National Park for millennia. Human stories are woven deeply into the park’s past and present, including in knowledge and experiences passed down through generations or still waiting to be told. Your support can fund efforts to study, share, honor and learn from those cultural and historic legacies.

Current Projects

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Preserving the Ostrander Ski Hut
Safeguard and maintain critical systems at the Ostrander Ski Hut to allow for its continued use by winter enthusiasts who rely on its preservation for safe journeys into the Yosemite wilderness.
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Preserving the Snow Creek Backcountry Cabin
Reinforce the Snow Creek Backcountry Cabin — with repairs to keep out moisture and rodents — to ensure its continued access to winter visitors, use in snow surveys, and as a backcountry patrol cabin.
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Yosemite’s Horses and Mules
Ensure the continued success of Yosemite’s long-running mounted patrol program by bringing in six to eight new horses and mules, allowing older animals to retire.
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Yosemite Art and Traditions
Enhance visitor connections to Yosemite traditions and art through an annual series of summer park programs and events, including the Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series and the Obata Art Weekend.
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Yosemite Regional Museum Facility Planning & Design
Fund a project manager position to oversee the preliminary designs and feasibility analysis pre-planning of a multi-story museum and archives collection storage building to prevent irreparable damage to the park’s uniquely valuable collections.
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Cataloging for Conservation
Address the backlog of collected research specimens that have not been processed or cataloged. This work is essential to preserve scientific value, ensure compliance, and support future researchers and resource management.
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Yosemite Ancestral Stewards
Invest in Yosemite’s future through the Yosemite Ancestral Stewards (YAS) program that empowers Indigenous youth to become active participants in the stewardship of their ancestral homeland.
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Connecting to Traditions: Cultural Demonstrator Program
Support Yosemite’s cultural demonstrator program that brings Tribal representatives to the Yosemite Museum and Indian Village to interpret cultural stories and Tribal histories.
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Our cultural and historic preservation projects have helped the park digitize thousands of vintage images, host special museum exhibits, restore buildings and expand educational resources, work with traditionally affiliated tribes to build a roundhouse at the Wahhoga Village site, and much more.

Want to know more? Take a quick journey back in time to see our past projects!

Areas of Focus

Thanks to supporters, we’ve provided over $152 million to Yosemite for more than 800 completed projects. Donor gifts help improve trails, restore habitat, protect wildlife, inspire the next generation of nature-lovers and more. Explore our funding areas to see current and past projects.