Yosemite Place Names: The Historic Background of Geographic Names in Yosemite National Park [Paperback]

Peter Browning (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0944220002 | ISBN-13: 978-0944220009 | Publication Date: May 1988

Includes old names, Indian names, fanciful names, and names that won t be missed. The record of who named what and when; quotations from explorers, soldiers, tourists, and rangers; and the peculiar, humorous, or moving events that gave rise to the names on the maps today. A thorough collection of geographic names. Drawings and early photographs add to the enjoyment of the book. The account of the first tourist group to visit the valley, in 1855, is worth the price of the book alone. (The Sacramento Union.)

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Great West Books (May 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944220002
• ISBN-13: 978-0944220009
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,661,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book., July 12, 2006

By 

California Indian Baskets (Mono Lake) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yosemite Place Names: The Historic Background of Geographic Names in Yosemite National Park (Paperback)

One reviewer stated the names were Miwok, but they were actually Paiute. I can understand that people now believe that it was Miwok, but the truth is that the original ihabitants of Yosemite were Paiutes. Lafayette H. Bunnell was the man who tried to transcribe most of the early Native names of the Yosemite area, but they were to hard to translate from Paiute. Bunnell did write that Chief Tenaya's band were Paiutes. Not once did he write they were Miwoks. That was mistakenly written later by those who did not meet the original inhabitants of Yosemite, but met those who followed the soliders and miners, there guides, scouts and workers...the Miwoks. To see the original words try to buy Lafayette H. Bunnell's book the Discovery the Yosemites, 1851. It shows how Bunnell tried to get the original names from Chief Tenaya himself. Chief Tenaya was the founder of the Paiute Colony of Ahwahnee.

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent reference, September 6, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yosemite Place Names: The Historic Background of Geographic Names in Yosemite National Park (Paperback)

Thousands visit California's Yosemite National Park yearly; most don't realize the origins and history behind the many interesting names in this landmark park. History buffs both local and afar will therefore find much to attract and educate in Yosemite Place Names; The Historic Background Of Geographic Names In Yosemite National Park. Arranged alphabetically by place name, it's easy to look up histories which range from names of lakes, gulches and towns to notable explorers and people who left lasting impressions on the park. An excellent reference.

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting information on Yosemite names, July 9, 2004

By 

Dan Anderson (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yosemite Place Names: The Historic Background of Geographic Names in Yosemite National Park (Paperback)

Ever wondered the origin of names such as Tuolumne? Wawona? Ahwahnee? Or even Yosemite? This is the book for you!

I find this stuff fascinating--this book is a throughly-researched reference on the various place names in Yosemite. Miwok (Indian) names and their origin are also given, along with accounts of the first visitors to Yosemite/