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MADERA TO YOSEMITE STAGE ROUTE EST. 1879 SWITCHING FROM THE IRON HORSE TO THE HORSE DRAWN STAGE AFTER A NIGHT AT MADERA'S YOSEMITE HOTEL, WHICH STILL STANDS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS MONUMENT, AT 6:00 A.M. THE TOURISTS WOULD LOAD UPIN OPEN STAGES, TO ENABLE THEM A GOOD VIEW. STAGECOACHES BY THEIR ENCLOSED DESIGN WERE UNPOPULAR. EACH TRIP TO YOSEMITE VALLEY TOOK 2 OR 3 DAYS, DEPENDING ON THE LOAD, ROAD CONDITIONS, OR OTHER DELAYS SUCH AS MANY STAGE HOLDUPS. ONE WOMAN FROM WHOM $20 WAS TAKEN SAID, "I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT FOR 100". IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 72 HORSES FOR EACH TRIP TO YOSEMITE VALLEY. EACH STAGE LINE OWNED ABOUT 600 HORSES AND HAD TO PROVIDE A STAGE STOP TO CHANGE HORSES EVERY 7 OR 8 MILES. IN IT'S HEYDAY THERE WERE MANY STAGES LINED UP IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL EVERY MORNING. IN 1886 WITH THE COMPLETITION OF THE RAILROAD TO WILDCAT STATION (RAYMOND) IN THE FOOTHILLS AND OUT OF THE VALLEY MUD, THE ROUTES BUSIEST DAYS WERE GONE.IN 1941 THE W.P.A. AND THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS COMPLETED A THEN MODERN HIGHWAY TO FRIANT. MADERA AGAIN HAD A MAJOR STAGE (MOTORIZED) LINE TO YOSEMITE. MADERA - GATEWAY TO YOSEMITE DEDICATED BY E CLAMPUS VITUS GRUB GULCH CHAPTER 41-49 SEPTEMBER 25, 1999 Monument is in Madera, California at the intersection of E Street and Yosemite Avenue. |