In the mid to late 19th century, natural resources in America were heavily exploited. Many Americans believed the natural resources in the United States were inexhaustible. But, conservationists called for more Federal supervision and preservation of the resources for future generations. Conservationists found an ally in President Theodore Roosevelt.
Roosevelt was deeply influenced by American naturalist John Muir and Gifford Pinchot, Chief of Forestry. Roosevelt considered the conservation and preservation efforts of his administration to be among his greatest achievements. The conservation legacy of President Roosevelt can be found in 230 million acres of public lands protected during his term.
This photograph was taken at the base of the Grizzly Giant tree in Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite in 1903. The land on which President Roosevelt stood in the photograph was then Federal land. The Yosemite Grant was created by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in June 1864. For the first time under the Yosemite Grant, land was set aside specifically for preservation and public use by the United States Federal Government.
