Historic Structure Report: Yosemite Village Store

Architectural Resources Group, Inc.

At the request of the National Park Service (NPS), Architectural Resources Group (ARG) has prepared the Yosemite Village Store Historic Structure Report (HSR) to serve as a guide for proposed upgrades and ongoing maintenance of the building. The Yosemite Village Store, completed in 1959, was constructed as part of the Mission 66 program that expanded visitor services and amenities in the park. Eldridge T. (Ted) Spencer, Yosemite Park and Curry Company’s architect, and William C. Ambrose designed the building. Jeanette Dyer Spencer, Ted Spencer’s wife, directed the interior design, and Hedahl Construction Company of Redwood City completed construction. The Yosemite Village Store is associated with the National Park Service’s Mission 66 Era of construction, which is defined as pre-Mission 66 (1945-1955), Mission 66 (1956-1966), and Parkscape USA (1967-1972). ARG completed a preliminary assessment of historical significance for the Village Store in November 2016 and determined that the building would not qualify for individual listing on the National Register, but could be considered a contributor to an expanded Yosemite Valley Historic District for association with the Mission 66 program. The Yosemite Village Store is generally in good condition. No major condition issues were found through the course of this study. Specific areas of deterioration and disrepair are described in the Condition Assessment section of this report. Rehabilitation is recommended as the overall treatment approach for the Yosemite Village Store. All future work shall be carried out in accordance with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings (The Standards). Continuation of the original use of the building is recommended. The scope of work recommended for rehabilitation of the Yosemite Village Store includes protection of existing historic materials, repair of deteriorated features, and renewal of the interior and exterior finishes where required for continued use. Restoration of missing or damaged character-defining features is recommended where enough information is available to repair or recreate the element. Each of the building systems also require improvements, including structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades.

Historic Structure Report: Yosemite Village Store

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