Galen Clark (March 28, 1814 – March 24, 1910) is known for his discovery of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia trees and for his role as Guardian of Yosemite National Park for 21 years. In 1853, Clark had a severe lung infection and moved to the Wawona, California area as a homesteader."I went to the mountains to take my chances of dying or growing better, which I thought were about even." (Galen Clark, 1856) Upon his discovery of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Galen Clark spent the majority of his time exploring the area and teaching others about the mysteries of the giant, cinnamon-colored trees. This passion led to him writing letters to friends and congress, eventually leading to the passing of the Yosemite Grant. This grant was the first of its kind, stating that it would protect Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for, "public use, resort, and recreation...to be left inalienable for all time..." Galen then became the first "guardian of the grant". His lungs healed and he subsequently explored and climbed much of the area. Download high resolution version (400x608, 88 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in Leap years). ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ... 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Giant Sequoia in the Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Mariposa Grove is a sequoia grove located near Wawona, California in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park, at 37°31′ N 119°36′ W. It is the largest grove of Giant Sequoias in the park, with several hundred mature examples of the... Binomial name Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl. ... Yosemite National Park (pronounced Yo-SEM-it-tee, IPA ) is a U.S. national park largely in Mariposa County, and Tuolumne County, California, United States. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Categories: Stub | Unincorporated communities in California ... The Homestead principle in law is the concept that one can gain ownership of something which currently has no owner by using that thing. ...

Clark did not seek to enrich himself from Yosemite Valley or the Sequoia Trees. He ran a modest hotel and guide service, but was a poor business man who was constantly in debt. "Clark's Station" in Wawona, California, for example, had several more employees than required for the number of guests and its short season. Yosemite Valley with Half Dome in the distance. ...

Toward the end of his life Clark was desperately poor. He wrote three books on Yosemite. These include Indians of the Yosemite (1904) and The Yosemite Valley (1910). Galen Clark's book on the Sequoia trees is simple, factual, and direct. He left out his personal role in the discovery, popularization, and protection of the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees as hotel keeper, guide, and Guardian of Yosemite and Mariposa Grove.

References

• Indians of the Yosemite (1904)
• The Big Trees of California (1907)
• "Yosemite: Past and Present," Sunset, April, 1909
• The Yosemite Valley (1910)
• Early Days in Yosemite (1964). Originally published as "A Plea for Yosemite" in Yosemite Nature Notes (February 1927) from a manuscript written c. 1907.
• "Galen Clark" biographical sketch by Mrs. H. J. Taylor (in Yosemite Indians and Other Sketches, 1936)
• Sketch of Galen Clark's life by John Muir (in The Yosemite, 1912)
• Galen Clark's obituary
• Sketch of Galen Clark by W. W. Foote in Indians of the Yosemite (1904)
• Shirley Sargent, Galen Clark: Yosemite Guardian 3d. ed. (1994).