Galen Clark
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Galen Clark (March 28, 1814, Dublin, New Hampshire – March 24, 1910, Oakland, California) is known for his discovery of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia trees and for his role as Guardian of Yosemite National Park for 21 years. In 1853, Clark had a severe lung infection that was diagnosed as consumption, as tuberculosis was called in Clark's time. Doctors gave him six months to live at most. He then moved to the Wawona area as a homesteader. "I went to the mountains to take my chances of dying or growing better, which I thought were about even." (Galen Clark, 1856) Upon his discovery of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Galen Clark spent the majority of his time exploring the area and teaching others about the mysteries of the giant, cinnamon-colored trees. This passion led to him writing letters to friends and congress, eventually leading to the passing of the Yosemite Grant. This grant was the first of its kind, stating that it would protect Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for, "public use, resort, and recreation...to be left inalienable for all time..." Galen then became the first "guardian of the grant". His lungs healed and he subsequently explored and climbed much of the area.
Clark did not seek to enrich himself from Yosemite Valley or the Sequoia Trees. He ran a modest hotel and guide service, but was a poor business man who was constantly in debt. "Clark's Station" in Wawona, California, for example, had several more employees than required for the number of guests and its short season.
Toward the end of his life Clark was desperately poor. He wrote three books on Yosemite. These include Indians of the Yosemite (1904) and The Yosemite Valley (1910). Galen Clark's book on the Sequoia trees is simple, factual, and direct. He left out his personal role in the discovery, popularization, and protection of the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees as hotel keeper, guide, and Guardian of Yosemite and Mariposa Grove.
Today, the Giant Sequoia that would have been the first of its kind to be seen by Clark upon his arrival at the Mariposa Grove is named and marked "The Galen Clark Tree", in memory of his contribution to the preservation of the Giant Sequoia ecosystem and the idea of the "National Park".
[edit] Trivia
- His life and efforts to preserve the giant sequoias of Yosemite were depicted in the 1976 TV movie "Guardian of the Wilderness" (also called Mountain Man). Portrayed by Denver Pyle who played Uncle Jesse in the TV series "Dukes of Hazzard".
[edit] References
- Indians of the Yosemite (1904)
- The Big Trees of California (1907)
- "Yosemite: Past and Present," Sunset, April, 1909
- The Yosemite Valley (1910)
- Early Days in Yosemite (1964). Originally published as "A Plea for Yosemite" in Yosemite Nature Notes (February 1927) from a manuscript written c. 1907.
- "Galen Clark" biographical sketch by Mrs. H. J. Taylor (in Yosemite Indians and Other Sketches, 1936)
- Sketch of Galen Clark's life by John Muir (in The Yosemite, 1912)
- Galen Clark's obituary
- Sketch of Galen Clark by W. W. Foote in Indians of the Yosemite (1904)
- Shirley Sargent, Galen Clark: Yosemite Guardian 3d. ed. (1994).
