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The start of it all -

Yosemite was officially classified as a National Park in 1890.

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A history of native lands -

Before that time, it was home to the American Indian Ahwaneechee tribe for over 4,000 years, according to Soft Schools.

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A bloody war -

This all changed when trappers and the California Gold Rush came to Yosemite. This conflict over territory eventually erupted into the Mariposa Indian War.

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A waterfall fit for a wedding -

Yosemite's iconic Bridalveil Falls received its name because when the water is blown to the side by wind, it resembles a bride's veil blowing gently in the breeze.

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A world-renowned wonder -

The park was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

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A positively popular park -

Roughly four million people visit Yosemite National Park every year, according to CBS SF BayArea.

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Massive falls -

With a 2,425-foot drop from its peak, Yosemite Falls is the largest waterfall in North America.

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A hub for redwoods -

It has been estimated that the park is home to over 500 giant sequoias, otherwise known as redwoods. These trees can live up to 3,000 years.

(Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash)

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A must-see rock climbing destination -

From the end of World War II up until around 1970, Yosemite National Park was a modern rock climbing mecca.

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A rock climber's playground -

Yosemite's legendary Camp 4 site has been a hot spot for world-renowned climbers throughout history.

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The glowing falls -

If you catch Horsetail Falls on an evening in late January to mid-February, you'll see the sunset hit the waterfall in such a way that gives the illusion of flowing lava.

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Incredible biodiversity - Out of California's 7,000 plant species, nearly 20% of them can be found in Yosemite National Park, according to Soft Schools. (Photo by Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash)

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An impressive peak - Rock climbers are up for quite the challenge if they want to take on the famous El Capitan rock formation, which is about 3,000 ft tall. (Photo by Paul Robinson on Unsplash)

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A wide range of wildlife - There are over 90 different mammal species living in the park, according to Soft Schools. (Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash)

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Up in the clouds - The park's elevation ranges between 2,000 and 13,000 ft, according to National Park Reservations. (Photo by Nicolas Moscarda on Unsplash)

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An array of ancient forestland - Yosemite has about 225,000 acres of old-growth forest left, according to Soft Schools. (Photo by Sam Goodgame on Unsplash)

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Perfect paths for exploring - There are over 800 mi of hiking trails for lovers of the outdoors to enjoy. (Photo by Jenn Lopez on Unsplash)

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Even US presidents love it - In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt spent three nights camping in the national park. (Photo by Jenn Lopez on Unsplash)

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World-class waterfalls - The park is home to three of the top 10 tallest waterfalls in the world. (Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)

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Wild and free - Only a small portion of the national park is open to the public, while the vast majority of it remains untouched by humans. (Photo by Luo Lei on Unsplash)

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The Guardian of Yosemite - Explorer Glen Clark was the first to record data on the park's giant sequoias. Clark used to do this barefoot, and referred to shoes as “cruel and silly instruments of torture," according to Science Wonders. (Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash)

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Flora and fauna frenzy - The national park has thousands of plant species, some of which are typically rare to the region. (Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash)

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The park's real giant - Though El Capitan may get all the attention of tourists, the highest peak in the park is actually Mt. Lyell, which is 13,114 ft tall. (Photo by Andrew Charney on Unsplash)

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Mountaintops that never rest - The mountains in Yosemite still grow roughly one foot every 1,000 years. (Photo by Jeff Finley on Unsplash)

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Safeguarding the park - Yosemite National Park was the first area of land protected by the US federal government. (Photo by Tommy Lisbin on Unsplash)

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An unlikely arts destination - Yosemite isn't all about hiking and rock climbing. During the spring and summer, the park actually features several art exhibits at locations like the Ansel Adams Gallery. (Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash)

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Well-deserved attention - Tourism in the national park shot up exponentially after artist Thomas Ayres painted Yosemite's landscapes and James Hutchings wrote about the park. (Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash)

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Tremendous trees - “The Grizzly Giant" sequoia tree in Yosemite National Park is one of the largest trees in the world. (Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash)

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Black bear bonanza - There are between 300 and 500 black bears residing in Yosemite National Park, according to Soft Schools. (Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)

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The park's protectors -

In 1899, an army of African-American soldiers, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, were assigned to patrol Yosemite National Park. This included protecting the park from poachers and fighting forest fires, according to Mental Floss. (Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)

See also: The most beautiful national parks in the world

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