Acting Superintendent's Headquarters
Also known as: Army Cabin
Why it's listed
This small board-and-batten cabin in Wawona, within Yosemite National Park, was built by the U.S. Army in 1904 at Camp A.E. Wood to serve as the park's first headquarters office. The Army administered Yosemite from 1891 until civilian superintendents took over in 1913. When Yosemite Valley joined the park in 1906, headquarters moved to the valley floor, and this office was taken apart and moved with the troops. It served as a residence until 1958, when it was returned to Wawona for the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. The roof had to be removed to pass through the Wawona tunnel, and the materials were treated and restained before reassembly. It is the only remaining structure tied to the military presence in Wawona. During that era, Army superintendents began mapping and exploring the park, set rules on grazing and firearms, and started trail building that eventually covered over 600 miles of backcountry. Today it is used to interpret that early administrative period.
Significance in brief: It was the first headquarters office used by the Army, which administered Yosemite National Park from 1891 to 1913. It is the only surviving structure associated with the military's time in Wawona and the only survivor of the few buildings dismantled and moved to Yosemite Valley with the troops in 1906. It is of local significance in conservation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000362, listed June 9, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Yosemite National Park, Wawona |
|---|---|
| County | Mariposa County |
| Listed | June 9, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | U.S. Army |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and used as an interpretive exhibit; undergoing stabilization to replace rotting lower structural members, with reroofing planned. Condition listed as fair and maintained on a regular schedule by the National Park Service. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.53898, -119.65564 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4676859
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.