Historic California
Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Camp Yosemite
(Camp near Wawona,
Detachment at Yosemite National Park, Camp A.E.Wood)
The
Camp near Wawona, circa 1891.
This post was established on May 17, 1891,
and called Camp near Wawona or Detachment at Yosemite National
Park. Its first garrison consisted of Company l, 4th Cavalry,
commanded by Captain Ahram Epperson Wood. Captain Wood, the park's
first superintendent, arrived with the troops on May 19 and continued
in charge until his death in 1894. In 1901, the post was redesignated
Camp A E. Wood in his honor, but was renamed Camp Yosemite in
May 1907. Each year the park's Army troops came in April or May
and withdrew in the fall. During the winter months two civilian
rangers attempted to patrol the area. For more than 23 years
the Department of the Interior continued to call upon the War
Department for assistance in administering Yosemite National
Park. Finally, the National Park Service was created in 1916
and relieved the Army.
Distant view of seasonal
cavalry camp structures at Camp A.E. Wood with bridge in foreground,
and eighteen men standing and seated on bridge, and standing
with mules nearby. (Image courtesy of the Mariposa County Library)
