It's now a given that Americans--and people the world over--would seek
to preserve their sacred, special places. One hundred fifty years ago,
however, it was definitely not a foregone conclusion that the
awe-inspiring granite cliffs, astounding waterfalls, and sublime
sequoias of Yosemite would be protected. This idea of preservation was
the national park idea; an idea that started from a seed, a seed that
was planted in Yosemite. It was through the efforts of people like James
Mason Hutchings, Galen Clark, Frederick Law Olmsted, John Muir, and
Theodore Roosevelt among others that the world learned of Yosemite,
flocked to it, nearly destroyed it, and ultimately saved it. These
fascinating characters and their remarkable stories are skillfully woven
together in this beautiful volume, created expressly to capture the
wonder of Yosemite and to inspire future generations to do their part
for wild places.