McCauley and Meyer Barns
Why it's listed
Three handcrafted barns in Yosemite National Park, near El Portal, preserve the ranching past of the area. The McCauley Barn, about 40 by 80 feet, was built around 1883 by Irish-born trailbuilder and innkeeper James McCauley as part of his winter ranch near Foresta. Two barns at Big Meadow were built by George Meyer, a German-born ship carpenter, one in the late 1870s and the other in the early 1880s. Meyer Barn No. 1 is a saltbox-shaped timber-frame building. The McCauley Barn and Meyer Barn No. 2 have cores of peeled logs for hay storage, surrounded by stalls, and are examples of the Mormon Pole Barn type, unusual in California. They are described as the last remaining barns in Yosemite with architectural significance and integrity, and they remain largely unchanged from their original appearance. They also recall the pioneer ranches once located within the park. Meyer's ranch was a stage stop on the Old Coulterville Road.
Significance in brief: The barns are described as the last remaining barns in Yosemite with architectural significance and integrity. They are handcrafted examples of local vernacular building, nearly unchanged from their original appearance. The McCauley barn and Meyer barn 2 are examples of an unusual California type known as the Mormon Pole Barn. They also represent the pioneer ranching history of the area.
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 78000353, listed June 15, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of El Portal in Yosemite National Park, El Portal |
|---|---|
| County | Mariposa County |
| Listed | June 15, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000353 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Late 1870's-early 1880's |
| Architect / builder | James McCauley; George Meyer |
| Architectural style | Vernacular; "Mormon Pole Barn" type (McCauley Barn and Meyer Barn No. 2) |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The McCauley property has been unoccupied since 1955 and was acquired by the National Park Service in 1974. The Meyer barns stand in Big Meadow, which is used as pasture for horses and mules. The form describes the barns as nearly unchanged from their original appearance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.69842, -119.75855 (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 78000353.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6800254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.