Indian Village of Ahwahnee

Tourist attraction · Yosemite Valley

Indian Village of Ahwahnee

Tourist attraction · Yosemite Valley

1

9035 Village Dr, TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, CA 95389

Photos

Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by Jeremy Thompson/CC BY 2.0
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by zackofalltrades
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by Jeremy Thompson/CC BY 2.0
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by Jeremy Thompson/CC BY 2.0
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by zackofalltrades
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by zackofalltrades
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by Jeremy Thompson/CC BY 2.0
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by Jeremy Thompson/CC BY 2.0
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by Jeremy Thompson/CC BY 2.0
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by Jeremy Thompson/CC BY 2.0
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null
Indian Village of Ahwahnee by null

Highlights

Nestled near the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, this reconstructed Miwok village offers a serene, self-guided walk through rich Native American history.  

Placeholder
Placeholder
Placeholder

9035 Village Dr, TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, CA 95389 Get directions

nps.gov

Information

Static Map

9035 Village Dr, TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, CA 95389 Get directions

nps.gov

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot

Last updated

Jul 19, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@atlasobscura

The Ultimate Guide to America's National Parks

"Behind the Visitor Center near the Yosemite Museum, you can follow a trail that leads to a place  lost in time, and swallowed by history.  The Yosemite Valley and it surrounding area have been inhabited for as long as 8,000 years. Though little is known about the region’s earliest inhabitants, archaeologists have uncovered small stone weapons and tools. Eventually, the valley came to be called Ahwahnee, which means “gaping mouth-like place.” The people who lived in the area called themselves Ahwahneechee. Yosemite was populated mostly by Southern Miwok people, with Central Miwok people utilizing the northern quarter of the park. At the end of the 18th century, non-Native settlers began arriving in the area, which would dramatically change the Miwok way of life. The California Gold Rush brought thousands of miners to the Sierra Nevada in search of riches. As these prospectors developed the land and established settlements, thousands of Miwok people were killed, died of starvation, or forced to leave the land they had inhabited for generations. The reconstructed Miwok Village of Ahwahnee is meant to depict life for as it was in an Ahwahnee village in the 1870s. This village is a reconstruction of one used to sit in the same spot, which was disbanded in the 1930s. It had been the largest Miwok village in the Yosemite Valley, with around 200-300 inhabitants. The replica contains several structures which would have been familiar to the Ahwahneechee people, including bark teepees, acorn silos, and a sweat lodge. Markers lining the path educate on the history of the structures and native plants in the area, and seasonally the staff present demonstrations on basket weaving, beadwork and other culturally significant activities. The attraction is free to visit.  A house is still occasionally in use (and thus off-limits to anyone who is not a member of the tribe) by remaining members of the Ahwahnee tribe, some of whom still live in Yosemite Valley." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/ultimate-guide-to-national-parks
View Postcard for Indian Village of Ahwahnee

Christina Marsh Franklin

Google
Excellent coverage of Ahwahnechee traditional culture and a little history. Here, I would like to see something about Current Ahwahnechee culture. What connection do they have to this display? I would also like to see a Separate area of similar purpose for all Seven Traditionally Associated Nations of Yosemite that is put together by those Nations to show what they want to educate visitors about.

Qihua M

Google
As the sign says: “We invite you to follow this trail through a re-constructed Yosemite Indian village of the 1870s. The largest Miwok village in Yosemite Valley, the village of Ahwahnee, was once in this area. Signs along the path will introduce you to the structures in thevillage and the plants used by Native people.” It’s a very quiet section right behind the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, to my surprise, I was the only one there at the village right after 5:00pm when the visitor center was closed, it’s a very entertaining cultural education about the natives who have lived in Yosemite Valley for 4000+ years. It has models for Chief’s House, Hut, Bark House, Miwok Cabin, Sweathouse, Ceremonial Roundhouse, Acorn Granary along the plants the natives use. Towering behind the village are surrounding cliffs and forests. There is a spring/creek winding through the village which provides the water source. It’s a self guided tour and an easy walk for 20-30 minutes if you stop by each exhibits to read the descriptions. All in all, I enjoyed the Ahwahnee Village displays and an educational opportunity to learn more about Ahwahnee people and their culture in a pristine and natural setting.

Stephen Burch

Google
Such a cool historical area! Loved reading the historical plagues and seeing how the Indian Peoples lived and adapted. This was a really cool spot for our kids who were able to interact with history!

John Mac

Google
Very nice, serene, and peaceful experience. You can actually step foot inside some of the structures; I found this rather surprising.

Ⱥʂհą

Google
Bark-covered homes were used by Miwok people living in Yosemite Valley

Sarah W

Google
Awesome preservation/recreation. It was very cool to see some native American history.

Carlos Acosta

Google
Great place to learn the native history of Yosemite.

Jake Logan

Google
Amazingly detailed. I really enjoyed this.