Yosemite Grant Act 150th anniversary celebrated June 30

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act on June 30, 1864, and the national park celebrated this momentous occasion with a pictorial postmark 150 years later.

The Yosemite National Park post office offered a postmark on June 30 that includes Abraham Lincoln’s signature as part of the design, along with a quill and inkwell.

The grant helped establish the protected area and led to Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Tree Grove becoming the first California state park.

Yosemite became a national park in 1890.

Many events are taking place at the park this year to mark the occasion. Additional information can be viewed on the Yosemite National Park anniversary website, www.nps.gov/yose/anniversary.

To obtain this postmark, which has received a 90-day extension, send requests to the following address:

YOSEMITE GRANT SESQUICENTENNIAL Station, 9015 Lodge Drive, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9998, June 30.

Instructions for requesting postmarks

For complete instructions for requesting postmarks, click here.