Over one hundred years ago, on July 14, 1915, a group of influential men met for dinner at the Palace Hotel in downtown Visalia. Shortly after, they began a two week trek across the Sierra. Inspired by their experience, these men were instrumental in the creation of the National Park Service in 1916.
PALACE HOTEL
Still standing on Main Street at the corner of Court Street in the original Palace Hotel. The second floor is the location of the hotel and remains much as it was when Mather stayed there. The ground floor housed merchants just like it does today.
Imagine people like Stephen Mather, Ben Maddox, George Stewart and the rest of the party gathered for their last meal before embarking on their trek through the Sierra.
"The route to be traveled to Sequoia National Park, up sixty mile and 6,000 feet, was the narrow, rut-filled, steep, and torturous Colony Mill Road."
- The Mather Mountain Party
BEHIND-THE-SCENES
Stop by Visit Visalia offices to look through a book on the Mather Mountain Park, read a journal entry about the meal and the ensuing event ad well as see the map of the route they took.
HISTORY
Curious for more history? Follow our Visalia Then and Now Historic Walking Tour and see where outlaws and bandits once roamed the streets of Visalia, and learn how our town came to be so influential in the creation of not only Sequoia National Park but in National Park Service!
