Yosemite Cemetery

Yosemite Cemetery is a historic burial ground at the far west end of Yosemite Village, across the road from the Yosemite Museum. It suits a history-minded pause while exploring the village. The grounds are open year-round; there is no cemetery activity fee, though park entry fees may apply.

The graves belong to Indigenous people, early visitors and people connected with Yosemite’s development; the last burials were in 1956. There are 11 known graves of Yosemite’s Indigenous people. Among the people buried here are Galen Clark, who planted the sequoias around his grave; George Anderson, the first person to reach Half Dome’s summit; Forest S. Townsley, Yosemite’s first chief ranger; and photographer George Fiske.

Known graves were once scattered around the valley. A historical cemetery guide says they may have been gathered here when the cemetery was laid out in the 1870s; the date is uncertain. The cedars and enclosing fence date to 1906. James Mason Hutchings, whose family is buried here, organized Yosemite’s first tourist party in 1855 and later served as Guardian of the Yosemite Grant. He died in 1880 after a wagon accident on the Big Oak Flat Road.