1921 Yosemite National Park Camp Curry and 50 similar items

Up for bid is a 1921 camp brochure from Camp Curry, which was located in Yosemite National Park. Camp Curry, now known as Curry Village, was established in 1899 at the base of Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. Developed as an alternative to the first-class Sentinel Hotel, it offered a more affordable, rustic lodging experience. The camp became an iconic part of Yosemite's history, known for its family-oriented atmosphere, nightly campfires, signature tent cabins, and the reinstitution of the Yosemite Firefall. Camp Curry?s success helped lay the foundation for modern park accommodations and had a lasting influence on the development of national park concessions. Camp Curry was founded in 1899 by David A. Curry and Jennie Etta Foster, later known as Mother Curry. The couple, former teachers with experience running western camping tours in Yellowstone, introduced a new approach to park accommodations by using tents and tent cabins. Their first camp, located at the base of Glacier Point, began with just seven tents, a cook, and a team of college students who worked in exchange for room and board. At the time, the only other lodging option in Yosemite Valley was the Sentinel Hotel, part of the Washburn Brothers' transportation and accommodation monopoly. The Currys sought to provide a more affordable and rustic experience, where visitors could enjoy nature without sacrificing the comfort and community of a well-managed resort. The camp quickly proved successful, hosting 292 guests in its first summer despite logistical challenges, including reliance on a two-week freight wagon supply route from Merced. The Currys emphasized informal hospitality, with nightly campfire entertainments and the revival of the Yosemite firefall, a tradition originally introduced by James McCauley of the Mountain House. They advertised "a good bed and clean napkin with every meal" for $2 a day, equivalent to $76 in 2024 dollars. The opening of the Yosemite Valley Railroad in 1907 significantly increased accessibility to the park, fueling Camp Curry's growth. By 1915, automobile travel brought even more visitors, enabling the camp to host 1,000 guests. O