Curry Village facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Camp Curry Historic District
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| Location | Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California |
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| Area | 48 acres (19 ha) |
| Built | 1924 |
| Built by | Foster Curry, David A. Curry |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman, Rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000315 |
| Added to NRHP | November 1, 1979 |
Curry Village is a popular resort located in Yosemite National Park in California. It's found right in the heart of the beautiful Yosemite Valley.
Over the years, Curry Village has faced some challenges. For example, a rockfall in 2008 damaged some buildings. Also, a health concern in 2012 led to some cabins being closed for safety. In 2016, the village's name was temporarily changed to Half Dome Village due to a disagreement. But don't worry, the original name, Curry Village, was brought back in 2019!
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Where is Curry Village?
Curry Village is about 1 mile southeast of Yosemite Village. It sits at an elevation of about 4,000 feet (1,219 meters). This makes it a central spot in the stunning Yosemite Valley. The village is built on a natural slope made of rocks and debris from ancient rockfalls.
A Look Back: History of Curry Village
Curry Village started way back in 1899. It was opened by David A. Curry and Jenny Etta Foster. Jenny was later known as "Mother Curry." They created a simple camp with tents for visitors. They promised "a good bed and clean napkin with every meal" for just $2 a day!
In the early 1900s, the camp grew. It became a popular place for tourists visiting the park. It offered many rustic wooden cabins and tent cabins. These were simple places to stay, along with other helpful facilities. In 1970, the camp's post office officially changed its name to Curry Village.
Curry Village offers places to stay close to Glacier Point. The area is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes special buildings, a store, places to eat, a lodge, and a post office.
Many buildings in the camp are rustic wooden cabins. They have sloped roofs and are built on stone bases. There are also many tent cabins. These have a wooden base with a tent roof. They were a cheaper way to stay in the park in the early 1900s.
Some important old buildings include:
- The entrance sign from 1914.
- The Old Registration Office from 1904.
- The dance hall from 1913, now used as guest rooms.
- The Foster Curry cabin from 1916.
- Mother Curry's bungalow from 1917.
Later, bungalows with private bathrooms were built between 1918 and 1922. More simple bungalows without plumbing were added in the 1930s.
In 1917, David Curry passed away due to a serious illness. His wife and son took over running Camp Curry. The Camp Curry post office first opened in 1909. It changed its name to Curry Village in 1970. The village was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 1, 1979.
Recent Events at Curry Village
The 2008 Rockfall
On October 8, 2008, a large rockfall happened near Curry Village. Park officials estimated that about 6,000 cubic meters of rock fell. This rock came from the granite cliff above the village. Three visitors had minor injuries, but they were treated and released quickly.
The rockfall destroyed two wooden cabins and three tent cabins. Three other cabins were partly damaged. Because of this, the Park Service moved visitors out of Curry Village. After geologists studied the area, the park decided to permanently close 233 visitor rooms. They also closed 43 housing units for park workers. This was about one-third of all the places to stay in Curry Village. However, 36 units were later reopened.
After a three-year study, the National Park Service announced a plan in 2011. They decided to remove 72 buildings that were in the rockfall danger zone. These were mostly wooden buildings, including the historic Foster Curry Cabin. Important parts of these buildings were saved. New tent cabins were then built in safer areas away from the danger zone.
Health Concerns in 2012
In August 2012, the National Park Service announced some health concerns. Several visitors who had stayed in new "Signature Tent Cabins" in Curry Village became ill. These new cabins were built to replace those lost in the rockfall. They had double walls with insulation inside.
To keep everyone safe, the National Park Service closed all 91 of these new cabins. However, the park's 300 single-wall tent cabins remained open. The health issue was thought to be caused by visitors breathing in tiny particles from deer mice droppings. These mice had nested in the insulation between the walls of the new cabins.
About 14 percent of the deer mice in Yosemite carry a certain virus. State health experts had told Yosemite about this risk in 2010. At that time, park officials decided not to warn visitors. This was because there had only been one reported case out of 4 million visitors in 2010.
By early September 2013, a total of eight cases were identified. Seven visitors had stayed in the new tent cabins. The eighth person had been camping in Yosemite's high country. Yosemite sent emails to notify 230,000 people who had made reservations at the park. Three park employees also tested positive for a different, less serious type of virus. The health concern was believed to be due to an unusual increase in the deer mouse population. The design of the new tent cabins also played a role.
Images for kids
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Signature Tent Cabin interior
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Regular single-wall tent cabin interior
