Parsons Memorial Lodge

Parsons Memorial Lodge is a stone mountain shelter in Tuolumne Meadows within Yosemite National Park, with walls built from pink feldspar and grey granite, exposed wooden roof beams, and a fireplace on its north side. The structure is small and intimate, designed with sturdy construction suited to the alpine setting.

The structure was built in 1915 by the Sierra Club to honor a prominent conservationist who opposed a major dam project in the Hetch Hetchy Valley. It was created during a pivotal moment when the protection of wild lands became a defining national issue.

The lodge was named to honor a conservation leader and reflects the belief that mountain shelters should serve as places for community gathering and reflection. Its design with natural materials shaped how visitors were meant to experience this location as a retreat within wild nature.

The lodge is accessible from summer through early fall when alpine conditions allow, while winter and snow restrict access considerably. Visitors interested in visiting during cold months should come equipped with skiing or snowshoeing gear.

The structure blends hidden concrete engineering with local stone masonry, showing how early national parks experimented with modern building methods. This construction approach was unusual for its time and demonstrates the effort to achieve durability in the harsh mountain environment.

Location: Tuolumne County

Architects: Bernard Maybeck

Architectural style: rustic architecture

Elevation above the sea: 2,705 m

GPS coordinates: 37.87843,-119.36662

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:41