Nevada Fall Corridor
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NEVADA FALL CORRIDOR: A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT by MARTI M. GERDES A THESIS Presented to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program: Historic Preservation and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science August 2004 ii "Nevada Fall Corridor: A Cultural Landscape Report," a thesis prepared by Marti M. Gerdes in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program: Historic Preservation. This thesis has been approved and accepted by: Robert Z. Melnick, Chair of the Examining Committee 2 Date Committee in Charge: Robert Z. Melnick, Chair Cathy Gilbert Lee Roth Fred Walters Accepted by: Dean of the Graduate School iii C 2004 Marti M. Gerdes iv An Abstract of the Thesis of Marti M. Gerdes for the degree of Master of Science in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program: Historic Preservation to be taken August 2004 Title: NEVADA FALL CORRIDOR: A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT Approved: Robert Z. Melnick This study describes existing conditions, evaluates significance and historic integrity, and recommends treatment strategies to preserve historic elements of the Nevada Fall Corridor cultural landscape in Yosemite National Park. It reports findings from field investigation that examined and inventoried landscape features such as stone retaining walls, treadway material, bridges and causeways, and water features on both current-use and abandoned trail segments. The site was examined numerous times over a three-month period, with a followup visit one year later. Libraries and other archives were consulted for written and photographic historic documentation, which were analyzed against current conditions. The process also involved review of comparison documents as well as national guidelines set forth by the National Park Service. V CURRICULUM VITAE NAME OF AUTHOR: Marti Gerdes PLACE OF BIRTH; Casa Grande, Arizona GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS A Ft ENDED: University of Oregon San Diego State University Yavapai College DEGREES AWARDED: Master of Science in Historic Preservation, 2004, University of Oregon Master of Science in Journalism, 1987, University of Oregon Bachelor of Arts in English, 1979, San Diego State University AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Industrial archeology Cultural landscapes PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Preservation Intern, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service, 2003 Cultural Landscapes Intern, National Capital Region, National Park Service, 2002 Researcher, Oregon State Parks & Recreation Department 2002 Researcher, Preservation Northwest, 2002 Adjunct Professor, University of Oregon, 2000-2001 Copy Editor, The Register-Guard, 1994-2002 GRANTS, AWARDS AND HONORS: Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of Oregon, 2001-2003 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of Oregon, 1985-1987 vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many individuals contributed to this study, some with direct assistance in providing information, material, or comments, others through their support and interest in seeing this project come to fruition. First, I wish to recognize my thesis committee chairman, Robert Z. Melnick, for his unflagging support and encouragement during the research and writing of this report, and committee members Cathy Gilbert, Lee Roth, and Fred Walters for their insightful readings of drafts and thoughtful suggestions. To Jim Snyder, of Yosemite National Park, I extend sincere thanks and appreciation for sharing his depth of knowledge and for patiently and thoroughly answering my many questions during this past year. I wish to thank Craig Struble, also of Yosemite, who initiated the idea of investigating the stonework of the Mist Trail. Others at Yosemite who provided assistance include Tim Ludington, for information about the corridors more recent, unwritten history; Linda Eade, for her detailed knowledge of resources at the Yosemite Research Library; Kent Van Wagtendon, for GIS expertise; and archeologists Scott Jackson and Laura Kim. Other National Park Service personnel who helped move this forward include Shaun Provencher, Susan Dolan, and Roy Irwin. Margie Coffin Brown, of the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, offered crucial comparison studies that were key to my comprehension of the process of creating a cultural landscape report, and was always helpful in answering questions. There is a wall that runs for miles along a back road between Toronto and Niagara- on-the-Lake, Ontario. This project began there years ago, when I saw this, my first dry stone wall, and knew I had to learn more. vii For Fred, my best friend and strongest advocate, and a true member of the Ranger Club. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 Historic Overview and Context ................................................................................. 1 Purpose, Scope, and Methodology ............................................................................ 10 Description of Study Boundaries ............................................................................... 11 II. NEVADA FALL CORRIDOR SITE HISTORY ....................................................... 14 Development and Designers ....................................................................................... 14 Development by Native Americans ..................................................................... 14 Early Tourism in Yosemite ................................................................................... 15 Development Under Yosemite Valley Commissioners ................................... 19 Development Under the Army .............................................................................. 28 Development Under the National Park Service ................................................ 30 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 40 III. EXISTING CONDITIONS ........................................................................................... 42 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 42 Route Description .................................................................................................... 45 Existing Conditions Section 1 ..................................................................................... 48 Overview .................................................................................................................. 48 Description of Existing Conditions ..................................................................... 49 Landscape Characteristics ..................................................................................... 58 Existing Conditions Section 2 ...................................................................................... 63 Overview .................................................................................................................. 63 Description of Existing Conditions ..................................................................... 64 Landscape Characteristics ..................................................................................... 73 Existing Conditions Section 3 ..................................................................................... 78 Overview .................................................................................................................. 78 Description of Existing Conditions ..................................................................... 80 Landscape Characteristics ..................................................................................... 93 Existing Conditions Section 4 ..................................................................................... 98 Overview .................................................................................................................. 98 Description of Existing Conditions ................................................................... 100 Landscape Characteristics ................................................................................... 109 Existing Conditions Section 5 ................................................................................... 113 Overview ............................................................................................................... 113 Description of Existing Conditions ................................................................... 114 Landscape Characteristics ................................................................................... 118 Existing Conditions Section 6 ................................................................................... 122 ix Overview ................................................................................................................ 122 Description of Existing Conditions ................................................................... 123 Landscape Characteristics ................................................................................... 132 Existing Conditions Section 7 ................................................................................... 136 Overview ................................................................................................................ 136 Description of Existing Conditions ................................................................... 138 Landscape