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Title
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A Park in Wartime: Lincoln's Vision for Yosemite
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Description
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Signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on June 30, 1864, the Yosemite Grant Act was a foundational moment in American conservation. This legislation removed Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias from the public domain and granted them to the state of California to be held “for public use, resort, and recreation...inalienable for all time.” It marked the first time in U.S. history that the federal government set aside land for preservation and public enjoyment, establishing a crucial precedent that would directly lead to the creation of the National Park System. The grant represents a pivotal shift in the national consciousness, codifying the idea that unique natural landscapes were not just resources to be exploited but treasures to be protected for all people.
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Date
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June 30, 1864 – October 1, 1890
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Location - Physical Location
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9035 Village Dr, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389
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Name
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Adrian Lizardo
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cites
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Corapi, Sarah. “150 Years Ago, Abraham Lincoln Signed the Yosemite Grant Act.” PBS NewsHour, June 30, 2014. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/yosemite-turns-150.
