National Register of Historic Places

Merced Grove Ranger Station

El Portal, Mariposa County, California
Listed
June 14, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78000358

About this property

The Merced Grove Ranger Station in Yosemite National Park was designed by the National Park Service and completed in 1935. The station is located near the Merced Grove of giant sequoias in the Crane Flat region of the park. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This design, inspired by pioneer log cabins in the Sierra foothills, features sloped log ends and tightly fitted logs, making it a unique architectural design within the park. It stands as a notable example of Yosemite’s rustic architecture blending naturally with its surroundings. Measuring approximately 24 by 28 feet (7.3 by 8.5 meters), the cabin features precisely adzed logs, eliminating the need for chinking and creating exceptionally tight walls for a log structure. The building consists of a living room, bedroom, and kitchen. To the north of the cabin, up a hill, are two small outhouses. The Merced Grove Ranger Station was built as a replacement for the 1915 checking station on the Coulterville Road, the first stagecoach road into Yosemite. The cabin served as a summer retreat for Yosemite Park Superintendents, including Carl Russell, who worked on his writing of Yosemite history there. Media related to Merced Grove Ranger Station at Wikimedia Commons

Location

El Portal, Mariposa County, California
37.74876, -119.84028

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Crane Flat Fire Lookout
Industrial
1.3 mi
McCauley and Meyer Barns
Industrial
5.7 mi
El Portal Old Schoolhouse
Industrial
5.8 mi
Yosemite Valley Railroad Caboose No. 15
Industrial
6.1 mi
Track Bus No. 19
Industrial
6.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Merced Grove Ranger Station listed on the National Register?

Merced Grove Ranger Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Merced Grove Ranger Station?

Merced Grove Ranger Station is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Merced Grove Ranger Station?

The period of significance for Merced Grove Ranger Station is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Merced Grove Ranger Station?

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