28 historic photos of Yosemite to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the NPS

HISTORIC PHOTOS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK A woman stands on the precipice looking out onto the valley. The striking photograph was taken in 1902. HISTORIC PHOTOS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK A woman stands on the precipice looking out onto the valley. The striking photograph was taken in 1902. Photo: Library Of Congress/Courtesy Photo: Library Of Congress/Courtesy Image 1 of / 55 Caption Close 28 historic photos of Yosemite to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the NPS 1 / 55 Back to Gallery

Happy birthday to the National Park Service!

On Aug. 25, 1916, the keepers of America's great natural spaces were created when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill that gave the organization the responsibility "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

National parks have been called America's greatest idea. Through the NPS, expanses of the country have been preserved, protected and funded so that America's incredible natural beauty can always persist.

Bay Area residents are lucky to have several national parks in their backyard. There's Alcatraz, Fort Point, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and, further afield, beautiful Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park was first protected in 1864 and gained fame in the early 1900s after naturalist John Muir toured the park with President Theodore Roosevelt.

To see more amazing historical images of Yosemite from this era, see the gallery above.