Project overview: Improve building stability and visitor accessibility at the historically significant Hill’s Studio in Wawona, which serves as the visitor center for the district and supports NPS and Conservancy staff.

How your support helps: For over a decade, the Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s Studio has served as a warm welcome and information point for visitors entering the park through the southern gate. 

The center’s building was initially constructed alongside the Wawona Hotel in 1884 as a painting studio for 19th-century American artist Thomas Hill. Hill was well known for his paintings of California Landscapes, particularly his intricate depictions of Yosemite Valley. For a century after Hill’s death in 1908, the studio served various purposes — including as an ice cream parlor and a dance hall — before becoming the Wawona Visitor Center in 2009.  

With support from Yosemite Conservancy donors, the National Park Service (NPS) renovated the interior to add a ranger-staffed information desk, a wilderness permit center, a Conservancy bookstore, and exhibits about Hill and other painters. Now, the Center is typically open from May to October and provides key services for the southern Yosemite area, near the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.  

That said, this historic structure lacks critical infrastructure to ensure that all visitors can access information equally. With a non-functional elevator, narrow doorways, and a restroom ramp with a non-compliant, steep slope, the building is in dire need of accessibility upgrades to meet current ADA standards. 

This year: While the Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s Studio is closed for the 2026 winter season, National Park Service staff will begin reconstruction of the building exterior, rear landing, stairs, and restroom access. With donor support, these upgrades will improve visitor accessibility and safety at the historically significant Hill’s Studio in Wawona— increasing efficiency for NPS and YC staff who occupy the space.

Project partner: Yosemite National Park