Rangers' Club

The Rangers' Club is a two-story residential building in Yosemite Valley featuring wood shingles, steep roofs, and large log pillars that blend into the park's forest setting. It serves as quarters for rangers and includes common spaces furnished with natural wood pieces.

The building was funded by Stephen T. Mather, the first National Park Service director, in 1920 to house the park's ranger workforce. The investment in such infrastructure reflected the agency's early commitment to structuring Yosemite's operations in a professional manner.

The building embodies National Park Service Rustic architecture through its natural materials and integration with the surrounding landscape. It demonstrates how early park management shaped visitor and staff understanding of the forest through thoughtful design.

The building stands directly across from the Valley Administration Building and is easy to spot when walking through the valley. Since it functions as active staff housing, visitors should observe respectfully from outside and avoid disrupting the residents.

The interior preserves original furnishings from the 1920s including built-in bookcases and dark wood paneling throughout the spaces. Decorative fir tree motifs appear in the hallway alcoves, adding a subtle woodland theme to the common areas.

Location: Mariposa County

Inception: 1920

Architects: Charles K. Sumner

Architectural style: National Park Service rustic

Website: https://nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/rangers-club.htm

GPS coordinates: 37.74727,-119.58678

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:44