In 1851, the Yosemite Valley was discovered as an incidental result of the effort to settle Indian problems which had arisen in that region.

How nature made this impressive valley of Yosemite? How did it happen that walls so enormous rise so nearly perpendicular from the level floor of the Valley?

During the past few years a rapidly growing interest in the native Indians has been manifested by a large majority of visitors to the Yosemite Valley. They have evinced a great desire to see them in their rudely constructed summer camps, and to purchase some articles of their artistic basket and bead work, to take away as highly prized souvenirs.

They are also anxious to learn something of their former modes of life, habits and domestic industries, before their original tribal relations were ruthlessly broken up by the sudden advent of the white population of gold miners...