In Conversation with Yenyen Chan

Garden The Knowledge

Topher Delaney and Park Ranger Yenyen Chan discuss the significance of the Chinese in the early history of Yosemite and our National Park Service.

Resources discussed in the podcast:

• George Wright Forum Article: Interpreting the Contributions of Chinese Immigrants in Yosemite National Park’s History by Yenyen F. Chan - http://www.georgewright.org/343chan.pdf
• 2011 Yosemite Video: A Glimpse Into Yosemite's Chinese History - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kdyrfXGz90
• 2022 Yosemite Video: Uncovering Yosemite's Chinese History - https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm%3Fid%3DAF63C5CB-AB05-426C-9250-21B726BA4272
• Exhibit @ Chinese Laundry next to Wawona hotel - https://yosemite.org/yosemites-chinese-history/
• The Today Show interview with Yenyen Chan about Yosemite's Chinese History - https://www.today.com/video/the-pivotal-role-chinese-immigrants-played-in-creating-yosemite-139607109518
• Yosemite's Chinese history exhibit - https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/chinesehistory.htm

Chinese Built Roads @ Yosemite:

• Wawona Road - 23 miles long - Built in 4 months (December 1874- April 1875)
• Tioga Road (Formerly Great Sierra Wagon Road) - 56 miles long - Built in 4 months (1882 - 1883)
• Big Oak Flat Road
• Coulterville Road
• The original Washburn trail to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite

Pilgrimage to Sing Mountain:

For more information on the Yosemite Sing Peak Pilgrimage, visit the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California website: www.chssc.org
The CHSSC website has a specific bookmark for this Yosemite Pilgrimage that is also available directly at this link: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9b463916aa294dcda3cea9d3b4e12926

To request a Ranger Program with Yenyen Chan, contact Public Information Officer - https://www.nps.gov/yose/contacts.htm

If you have any stories, letters, or other artifacts from family members who may have worked in Yosemite or the surrounding areas during the 1840's onwards, please email: [e-mail]

Photo Credit: Christine White Loberg