Yosemite History Center

Awesome to see the covered bridge - built to last. Live blacksmith demonstration. Lots of historical buildings and horse drawn carriages. Could not go into the buildings. Nice views of the river. Walking distance to a little general store.

I had the most amazing time at the pioneer center… they were hosting a barn dance… and it was so cool and refreshing ,?dancing with all the diversity who visit this amazing National Park! I fully fulfilled a bucket list that i didn’t even realize I had!!! I felt all the way back . Thank you so much.

Small, cute and fun. You will see multiple historical houses servicing different purposes (including George Anderson’s moderate cabin, who was the person to summit Half Dome), carriages, covered wooden bridge (inspired by Vermont bridges), live demonstrations (blacksmith), and swimming in the river. Overall a peaceful place to enjoy myself.

Apparently the park service disassembled, transported, and reassembled several structures built by various pioneers, artists, etc. around Yosemite over the years. The result is a neat collection of historical pioneer architecture, much of which is attached to cool stories and interesting people. Of particular note was the covered bridge and it's absolutely intense construction. They don't build things like that anymore, and it's a shame.

I could not emphasize more in words how important the history is. Thank you to all the effort to preserver all these things belong to history. A very rich history to understand and appreciate all the pioneers to explore this land. If you love history, if you love knowledge and want to know what it is all about, this must be a stop for you to visit and explore. Thank you to all volunteers to continue the job what they are doing

Came here to visit the Chinese Laundry Exhibit which is a 5-10 minute walk down the paved road. The signage to the exhibit is minimal but keep walking until you see a shed. Inside there are audio/visual presentations as well as posters and artifacts. There are even games and interactive activities to keep children entertained.

We drove up to Yosemite from LA, and our first stop inside the park was the Yosemite History Center & Market — the perfect place to stretch our legs and soak in a bit of local history. The charming covered bridge was a highlight, offering a picture-perfect walk with river access just below. We even spotted a few people cooling off and splashing in the water. Our children especially enjoyed watching the horses and mules in the corrals nearby — a fun surprise that added to the experience. Unfortunately, one of the historic buildings was closed due to vandalism prior to our visit, but the rest of the area still gave us a great glimpse into Yosemite’s past and we would continue to see names of historical figures that would continue to come up during our next few days in the park. Practical tip: There are outhouse-style restrooms here, making it a convenient quick stop before heading deeper into the park.

Fun place for the kids to explore with little signs at every building explaining the significance of every structure. You can look thru the windows and see all the furniture as well.

Very cool museum!!! They have a lot of buildings with descriptions about who was involved in the construction and use of them. They also have carriages, and a very awesome bridge. On the day we visited they also had horses at the stable (about 20!!!) and we got to see them being fed (they were very friendly). Sadly, notes posted on the building stated that they were closed because of incidents of people stealing the stuff that was inside. So none of the buildings could be entered. You should also visit the Chinese Laundry Building (located down the road from the rest of the historical buildings) where you can learn about the contribution of Chinese immigrants in the development of the area. I definitely learned a lot through the exhibits!! Definitely check this place out if you're heading into (or exiting) Yosemite on the Interstate 41 route!!

An outdoor collection of historic buildings. Painstakingly moved, restored from their original locations by Glen Gordo, Ed Whittemore (his assistant) and a crew of workmen. We spent the better part of our afternoon leisurely strolling along whilst admiring the craftsmanship and history embedded in each structure. Even though it was not possible to go inside any of the cabins or structures, there was still plenty to view and appreciate. You can expect to see the following: Wawona covered bridge, various large metal equipment items used in this time period, covered carriage house, horse barns, horse corrals, Chris Jorgensen Studio, George Anderson Cabin, Tom Hodgdon Cabin, Yosemite transportation Company office (Wells Fargo), Bridget Degnan's Bakery, Acting Superintendent's Office, Powder House (Jail), Blacksmith Shop, Cavalry Office and Ranger patrol cabin. You can find some of these sites listed on The National Register of Historic Places. http://www.undiscovered-yosemite.com/yosemite-pioneer-history.html

This history center was so interesting to visit, it is next to historical Wawona hotel which was only 15 minutes away from the lodge where we stayed at. Those historical buildings were from 19th century and so did everything else here. The creek underneath was so pretty to look at. We had to cross the vintage bridge and get to the village. The employees open doors of each building for visitors if you ask them too. And they were more than happy to answer your questions should you have any. There was a stable so you could do horse riding for a fee I think. We just took our time and walked around, everything was so interesting to look at. I can't imagine why this history center is not even popular in Yosemite national park. Try to come here if you ever enter from the park south entrance which is the most popular entrance of Yosemite. Ps. The restrooms outside this center are fully functional and very clean.

Been to Yosemite three times so far and have never been to pioneer village. Alot of history of yosemite in this small village fun to show family.The valley is about a hour drive this is about 10 minutes from the south entrance. A must do fun for everyone.

This is a collection of historic buildings reached via a picturesque covered bridge over the Merced River. The buildings include an artist's cabin (artists captured the imagination of the public regarding Yosemite), a mountaineer's home (moutaineers performed a variety of services for tourists, the greatest of which was taking them around the mountains), a ranger patrol cabin, Wells Fargo Depot, a bakery, and a jail cell (also a powderhouse). The buildings are well labeled with explanations of their purpose and original location out front. This was open despite the federal government closure with a fair number of people taking their dogs out for a walk in the area. When the federal government isn't closed, I understand that this is also a living history museum with folks in costumes. Also, worth noting, this bridge is gorgeous - I haven't seen a covered bridge like this on this coast. I could see it being used for engagement and wedding photos - it is a beautiful bridge.

Cute place to take the kids if you're looking for something free to do. It's a great experience for the kiddos to see what it was like for the pioneers. They have a creek to swim in, in case you go mid-July like we did when it was SUPER hot (then a fire broke out in the valley) they do have horse shoes and items for sale and you can watch the staff make it in front of you- I believe they ranged about $15-$20. The bathroom aren't clean of well maintained so use the nearby store if possible. They had great sites to see and they have descriptions out front of all of the structures/equipment to explain what they are.

A must-see if you're in Wawona with small children. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center is a collection of many buildings (most originally not located in Wawona), which are supposed to comprise a kind of chapter history of old-fashioned life in the park. The stuff to see is: -Covered Bridge -Chris Jorgensen Artist Home -George Anderson Pioneer Home -Hodgdon Homestead Cabin -Blacksmith Shop -Cavalry Office -Ranger Patrol Cabin -Wells Fargo Office -Degnan Bakery -Powderhouse and Jail -Gray Barn -Wagons and Stagecoaches My little boys (ages 2 and 4) absolutely loved the "tiny jail" as they called it, with one small cot and just enough room for a full-grown man to stand up. They also loved the working water pump behind the pioneer home. When we were there, a blacksmith was giving demonstrations, and she was excellent, patiently explaining to the onlookers what she was doing and showing off her handiwork. The nearby stables were a huge hit, too, as was the covered bridge. It was really fun to peek through the holes in the wood to watch the river rushing below. Most other buidlings weren't open, but it was interesting to walk around them.