The Ahwahnee

The Ahwahnee - Architectural Preservation, Renovation - ARG

Since 1997, Architectural Resources Group has been instrumental in the preservation and ongoing renovation of the Ahwahnee and its site in Yosemite National Park. Designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, The Ahwahnee is one of the most unique and spectacular of the nation's historic National Park lodges and is a National Historic Landmark. Projects include in-depth research and planning reports, complex new fire and life safety systems, accessibility upgrades, documentation and conservation of original finishes and furnishings, and selective renovation of the lodge’s 24 cottages. The phased project is ongoing, but upgrades thus far have been carefully orchestrated so that the hotel was closed for only three weeks in 2011.

WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW

The hotel was sited to capture views of the Park’s iconic sights, including Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls.
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During World War II, the Ahwahnee was pressed into service as a naval hospital.
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The massive structure is constructed of steel and concrete; what appears to be rough-cut siding is actually concrete, formed and stained to mimic redwood, to mitigate the lodge’s vulnerability to fire, a constant threat in the remote Yosemite Valley.

Photography by David Wakely

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