Camp Curry Historic District
Why it's listed
Camp Curry, also known as Curry Village, sits beneath Glacier Point at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, among granite boulders and cedars. David and Jennie Curry opened it in 1899 with seven tents, offering an inexpensive, family-style alternative to the valley's hotel. Guests gathered for nightly campfire programs and the firefall, and over time the camp added a registration office in 1904, a swimming tank and auditorium in 1913, and rustic cabins and bungalows. Four early structures remain at the heart of the district: the 1904 Registration Office, the roughly 1914 entrance sign, the 1916 Foster Curry Cabin and the 1917 bungalow built for Jennie Curry. All use unpeeled logs, cedar bark and river stone. Hundreds of tent cabins and later cabins surround them. The district was listed for its role in the Curry family's concession business and the continuing style of park accommodation it established, though fires and newer construction have changed parts of the original complex.
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) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1899-1924 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Rustic style |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Acreage | 48 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Camp Curry Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.