Friday, July 3, 2026

Question: Which U.S. president signed an 1864 act protecting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, an early step that helped inspire the national park idea?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act on June 30, 1864, granting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias to California to be held in trust for public use, recreation and preservation. The landmark law established an important precedent for protecting scenic lands, helping inspire the creation of the national park system. Yellowstone became the first national park in 1872, while Yosemite itself was designated a national park in 1890.