Soda Springs Cabin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Soda Springs Cabin
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Lee Vining, California |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Lembert, John Baptiste |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000282 |
| Added to NRHP | April 19, 1979 |
The Soda Springs Cabin is a special old building in Yosemite National Park, USA. It was built right over a natural fizzy spring called Soda Springs. This cabin tells an interesting story about the early days of people settling in the park.
Contents
The Soda Springs Cabin: A Historic Spot
The Soda Springs Cabin was built around 1889. It was made by John Baptist Lembert. He was the first European person to settle in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite.
Lembert first visited Tuolumne Meadows in 1885. He spent three summers there with his angora goats. He then decided to claim 160 acres (about 65 hectares) of land.
He built his log cabin directly over the biggest soda spring. Even though his property was inside the park, Lembert officially owned the land by 1895. The cabin was built near the Great Sierra Wagon Road. This road went over the Sierra Nevada mountains.
John Lembert: Naturalist and Guide
John Lembert also became a guide for tourists. He helped people explore the high mountain areas. He was known as a naturalist, someone who studies nature. He was also an entomologist, meaning he studied insects.
During the winter, Lembert would move to a cabin near Cascade Creek. This area is in the Yosemite Valley.
What Was the Cabin Used For?
Today, only the ruins of the cabin remain. They are still right over the bubbly spring. Experts believe the cabin was not a house. Instead, it was likely a "spring-house." This means it protected the spring. It stopped animals from making the water dirty.
The cabin is small, measuring about 9 feet (2.7 meters) by 11 feet (3.4 meters). Its walls are about 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall. There is no roof on the cabin now. It had no windows, only one door on its north side. The logs were put together using a special V-notched style.
A Journey Through Time: Ownership Changes
John Lembert grew up in New York. He had a good education and could read Latin. Sadly, he passed away in his Cascade Creek cabin during the winter of 1896-1897. His death was mentioned in a science magazine called Entomological News. A mountain, Lembert Dome, was named in his honor.
Another cabin, the McCauley Cabin, is on the land where Lembert spent his winters. After Lembert passed away, his brothers inherited the Soda Springs property. They sold it to J.J. McCauley in 1898.
McCauley then sold the Soda Springs property to the Sierra Club in 1912. The Sierra Club is a group that works to protect the environment. They used the site as a private campground for their members. This continued until 1972.
In 1972, the Sierra Club gave the land to the National Park Service. The Park Service then ran the campground for everyone to use. However, it was closed down in 1976.
The Soda Springs Cabin was recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 19, 1979. This list includes places that are important to the history of the United States.
