The LeConte Memorial Lodge was built by the Sierra Club in 1904 in order
to commemorate not only the person of Joseph
LeConte, but also his principles. The LeConte Lodge represents
one of the most important values of Yosemite as a National Park
-- the opportunity for visitors to enrich their experience of
Yosemite through free, public, volunteer-led interpretive programs
of nature, art, music, science, and history for adults, children,
and families.
The LeConte Lodge is reaching its centennial.
It is owned
by the National Park Service and thus the American people.
It is managed by the Sierra Club on a volunteer basis as a public
building which provides access to the public to programs which
explain and educate about the values of Yosemite National Park.
Around 15,000 Yosemite visitors participate yearly in the programs.
It commemorates Joseph LeConte, an eminent Professor of Geology
at the University of Berkeley, who not only studied Yosemite's
geology; but was devoted to and in awe of Yosemite Valley. He
led his geology students on pilgrimages to Yosemite to inspire
them in the sciences. When he was diagnosed with a terminal illness,
he came to Yosemite to die, but drew sustenance from Yosemite
and lived on for another decade or two.
If LeConte Lodge is to be considered
for removal from Yosemite Valley or the Park, then certainly
the proliferation of non-historic concession buildings which
have already been replaced numerous times over by similar services
in the gateway communities, should not only also be removed;
but would be a priority to be removed long before LeConte Lodge
-- which has many higher priority Park values as discussed above.
Also, as stated above, let's start by removing the buildings
with no historic or interpretive or natural values, and whose
services already exist in the gateway communities, such as the
Yosemite Lodge complex which could and should be replaced by
a more suitable and needed campground to serve average, low income,
and other families who enjoy and want access to Yosemite Valley
campsites.
From: Joyce Eden - Friends
of Yosemite Valley
Congressional Testimony on Radanovich bill
