This is the entrance to the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. Living history actors make the buildings come alive during the warmer seasons. When you talk to them, it's easy to believe that they've somehow been transported from the past or that you've somehow been transported to the past. I believe that they're all volunteers.
The deck and truss portion of the covered bridge were built by Galen Clark in the 1850s. The bridge was covered in 1875 by the Washburn brothers who bought Galen Clark out.
It's amazing to see the rough hewn lumber which dates back some 150 years. The bridge has been damaged by floods through the years but has been repaired as needed and is in good shape now. May it last another 150!
Blasting in the Park's early history required powder; this small building was used for storing the explosive. Later it was used as a jail and occasionally as a morgue. There is a story posted about the escape and recapture of two young car thieves in 1915.
This is an interesting part of the living history exhibit. I believe that some of the articles made are available for sale. So much of what is mass produced today had its origins in items made one-at-a-time, by hand. Nails for instance. But it seems like a contradiction that people who had to do so much for themselves seemed to have so much more time for themselves and for each other.
Here's a close-up of the blacksmith in the living history center. I have to wonder where he got his training - or perhaps he's self taught. I think we make a mistake when we invent a new technology and don't preserve the old. If something happens and the new techniques fail, we can be left in a difficult situation. I also think we should learn not only how the things around us work, but how the things they replaced worked, and for the same reasons. You never know when you're going to have to fend for yourself- and what could be more interesting than recapitulating the history of technology? Wouldn't that make a great school? At least we should know the basics-easy for me to say, hard to do. How many people know how a TV or a computer works, much less how their house is put together? (I don't.)
People have speculated why the Washburn brothers covered the bridge- obviously it wasn't called the covered bridge until they did so- they were known as very practical minded Scotch types, and it is true that covering the bridge protected the structure from weathering. According to the sign posted there, one of the brother's granddaughter suggested that nostalgia for the covered bridges of the Eastern United States played a part in their decision to make the Wawona covered bridge.
This is not exactly part of the Living History Center, at least to my mind, although it is right next to it, and it is an old building, and there are people who work there. This is a commercial venture, and a rather high priced one, which rents horses as part of the concessionaire's trade. As an aside, there is one major concessionaire in the park, which makes it easier for the park- the concessionaire manages most of the commercial properties but at least in the past, wielded considerable power and influence with the park service.
I wanted to show you what the side of the covered bridge looks like- how the structure supports the walls and roof. Also note the relatively dry South fork of the Merced - this was July, 2005- although the waterfalls were running pretty good when this was taken.
I must have passed by this sign 1000 times but I read it for the first time today, really read it. It's amazing to me what people did, not only to preserve themselves and their families, but to create community, civic institutions, to advance science and civilization. That really sounds boring. But I mean, if you think about how hard life was- it was hard enough to get enough food sometimes- and yet these people built some fine houses and churches, all manner of buildings, created businesses in the wilderness, surveyed the land, set up cities and townships, and created the first national park in the world. Someone even getting to Yosemite in the early days is awe inspiring.
I wanted to show you the living history sign as well as some of the products of the blacksmith. My family and I currently live in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area where there is also a living history center with a blacksmith.
