Inspired by nature, threatened by disaster: the 1918-1923 cabins in Curry Village, Yosemite National Park
Date
2010
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Located in the scenic Yosemite Valley, and at the base of its towering
cliffs, is Curry Village, historically called Camp Curry after founders David and Jennie
Curry. The camp, established in 1899, began with only seven canvas tents and soon
flourished into a successful business. The camp continually expanded, eventually
becoming a driving force behind the development of overnight lodging within
Yosemite National Park. In an attempt to offer accommodations beyond canvas tents,
twenty-four wooden cabins with baths were added to the site in 1918, followed by
another four in 1919, and in 1923 the final nineteen were completed. With the
addition of these rustic style lodging structures guests were offered the option of
staying in a canvas tent or a hard-sided cabin with modern amenities including access
to an attached private or semiprivate bath, hot and cold running water, heat and
electricity. Spurred by changing tourism trends and the popularity of the national
parks, the construction of these forty-seven new structures on the site allowed Camp
Curry to diversify its overnight offerings appealing to more visitors.
Today, forty-six of the forty-seven cabins with baths stand in their original
locations and suffer from a number of deterioration issues and deferred maintenance
affecting the appearance of the structures and their energy efficiency. However, these cabins still maintain a majority of their character-defining features, adding to the
historic character of the camp. All cabins were rented to overnight guests until
October 2008 when a rock slide in Curry Village permanently closed a number of
structures, including twenty of the historic cabins. These structures, although
undamaged, are within the designated rock fall zone and have remained untouched
since the initial rock fall while the cabins outside of the designated area are minimally
maintained. This thesis analyzes and documents the current condition of all cabins
with baths and makes recommendations for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation
and reconstruction of these structures. Included in these plans are proposed designs
for the adaptation of the core of the buildings to improve energy efficiency and guest
comfort. A proposed plan for the relocation of the twenty historic cabins within the
rock fall zone is described, in an effort to facilitate their future use by visitors.
Because these structures are an integral part of the history and architecture of Camp
Curry and Yosemite, this thesis advocates for their long-term preservation, retention
and use within Curry Village.