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 UP IN 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 THELOAD,
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

Located on Yosemite Avenue in downtown Madera at the R.R. crossing and Old Train Station.