President Lincoln grants the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove to California, establishing the first state park in the country.
Galen Clark is appointed “guardian” of Yosemite, making him the first California state park ranger.
James Marshall historic monument is dedicated in Coloma, overlooking site of gold discovery. This is the first California State Historic Monument, the forerunner of today’s State Historic Parks.
Photographer Andrew Hill begins campaign to save the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Sempervirens Club is founded to lobby for preservation of Santa Cruz Mountains redwood forest in Big Basin as a public park.
California Redwood Park is established; now Big Basin Redwoods State Park—California’s oldest state park.
Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove are returned to the Federal Government to become part of Yosemite National Park.
Save the Redwoods League is founded to preserve Humboldt Redwoods and other redwood areas.
Conservationists and politicians meet in San Francisco to discuss the founding of a state park system.
State legislature passes bill establishing the California State Park System. The new system consolidates management of 14 state parks.
