Historic Yosemite and Mariposa, California Books

All of these books are available from Windows on the World Books & Art, the Mariposa History Museum, the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce, Yosemite Gifts, the Company Store, or direct from Leroy Radanovich. Please click on the order button to purchase a book. We accept PayPal or arrangements for payment in advance can be made by contacting us. All of the photographs in these books are available from Leroy Radanovich Photography.

Please note that the four Arcadia books we offer contain photographs which are available as prints on the Yosemite and Mariposa web pages. We have thousands more so if you wish to discover another subject of Mariposa County or Yosemite regional history, let us know.

Please add 8.75% sales tax plus $2.75 each for shipping.

Mariposa County Court House
Pinkerton and Radanovich
Mariposa Heritage Press

History of early county government and the construction of the court house considered the oldest county courthouse of continuous use in the west. The personalities and events that have given our county character are told.

Memories of El Portal
Jim Law
Mariposa Heritage Press

Beginning in 1906 when Jim arrived in the Merced River Canyon at the time of the start of the Yosemite Valley Railroad, through the building of the Yosemite Sugar Pine inclines at El Portal, and Indian Flat, to the development of El Portal, the railroad, the hotels, to the building Of Hwy 140 and the operation of the Yosemite Portland Cement Plant at Emery and the National Lead Plant below El Portal, Jim gives a personal history of his involvement in all of these events through his memories and over 250 photographs that he collected.

Mother Lode Memories
Edited by Shirley Sargent
Mariposa Herritage Press

This collection of short stories penned by Jessie Benton Fremont covering the more than a year that she and the Col. lived in Bear Valley, Mariposa County on their Las Mariposas Grant. She tells of trips to Wawona, summer on Fremont Peak and decorating for Christmas. These and other stories of life in a mining camp have become part of the history of Mariposa County.

The Truth about Joaquin Murietta
J.C. Cunningham and illustrated by Molly Pierce
Mariposa Heritage Press

A collection of interviews made by a young Cunningham in the late 19th century. Copies were discovered in a trunk upon the death of his mother. Cunningham published them in the 1930’s shortly before his death and they were once again discovered by his grandson, Jim Cunningham, and republished in 1997. It follows the life of Murietta from the beginning in Murphys to his questionable end at Cantu Creek. Cunningham solicits opinions from various luminaries in California as to their beliefs regarding his killing by the California Rangers. Many wonderful stories, beautifully illustrated.

Images of America, Yosemite Valley
Leroy Radanovich
Arcadia Publishing

200 historic images of Yosemite Valley including many historic photographers Including George Fiske and Carlton E. Watkins. Narrative of early history of the valley is contained in the captions and text. Includes Native American collection as well as a chapter of George Fiske photographs.

Images of Rail, Yosemite Valley Railroad
Leroy Radanovich
Arcadia Publishing

The Yosemite Valley Railroad was constructed as a badly needed conveyance to Yosemite Valley in the days before the automobile. Visitation to Yosemite had been small, and the federal government wished to introduce the new park system to the public. A railroad through the Merced River Canyon from Merced was the answer to the challenging terrain. Thousands of acres of virgin timber forest and other natural resources along the way supported the building and operation of this rail line. From 1906 until World War II, timber, gold, barium, limestone, freight, and visitors rode the rails to Yosemite National Park on this line.

Images of America, Yosemite Valley
Leroy Radanovich
Arcadia Publishing

200 historic images of Yosemite Valley including many historic photographers Including George Fiske and Carlton E. Watkins. Narrative of early history of the valley is contained in the captions and text. Includes Native American collection as well as a chapter of George Fiske photographs.

Images of America, Yosemite National Park and Vicinity
Leroy Radanovich
Arcadia Publishing

200 historic images of Yosemite National Park outside of Yosemite Valley. Many historic photos in and around Yosemite National Park showing the early resorts, logging, Badger Pass Ski area, Glacier Point and it's Historic Hotel, High Sierra Camps and recent photographs of the gold rush mining camp of Bode. Narrative of early history and development.