Video Parts (3)
This clip is Part 1 of a 3-part film.
[YOSEMITE VALLEY] Part 1
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “In compliance with the law of this state this is Safety (non-inflammable) film.” “Permit issued without examination, pursuant to the law of the State of New York, No. 09125.” “Yosemite Valley is in the heart of Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. It is seven miles long, half a mile wide and three thousand feet deep.” Map of California showing Sierra Nevadas and Yosemite National Park. “A grinding stream of ice ages ago cut this deep valley of the Yosemite.” Diagram showing glacial advance and canyon and stream of today, El Capitan, and Bridal Veil Falls. “The first view reveals the nearly vertical cliffs that enclose the narrow valley.” Forest, cliffs above. “El Capitan guards the entrance to the Yosemite. Its rounded crest is three thousand feet above the valley. The granite walls have been polished smooth by the ice stream.” Views of El Capitan and the valley. “Bridal Veil Falls is thirty feet wide when it starts to fall from the edge of the granite ledge, and nine hundred feet below it ends in a great cloud of fleecy spray.” Views of the falls from across the valley and from below. “Cathedral Spires are huge granite masses towering three thousand feet above the bottom of the valley.” Bridal Veil Falls towering cliffs. “The Falls of the Yosemite descend 2,600 feet in three sections. The Upper Fall is 1,400 feet high. This is the Upper Fall from Glacier Point.” Tourists on point looking at falls. “Upper Fall of the Yosemite from valley floor. Top of Second Fall just appears.” “The Upper Fall has cut a deep notch in the granite ledge.” “A glimpse of the two lower falls of the Yosemite.” Falls - diagram of valley showing North Dome, Glacier Point. “All peaks have been rounded by the glacier into dome-like cones. North Dome is one of the domes or peaks that guard the narrow valley.” River, trees, dome in background. “Glacier Point is 3,250 feet above the little village of Yosemite at the bottom of the deep, steep-sided valley.” Tourists on Glacier Point. “Looking from Glacier Point into Tenaya Canyon which is part of the Yosemite Valley. Half Dome is to the right. Cloud’s Rest is the peak on the mountain crest.” Ranger with two hounds on Glacier Point looking across valley - valley from above. “Washington’s Column is a pillar of granite that supports the massive walls.” Column from below. “Great masses of granite were removed by the glacier from the sides of the valley wall forming the Royal Arches.” From valley floor - diagram showing Half Dome, Mirror Lake. “The grinding force of the stream of ice is clearly shown in Half Dome, where half of a great mountain is worn away. The surface of Half Dome is polished smooth.” Two views. “Mirror Lake is one thousand feet below the surrounding cliffs. It reflects perfectly Mt. Watkins, which is six thousand feet above.” Mountains reflected in lake. “Vernal Falls are nearest us and in the distance is Nevada Falls. They are cataracts larger than Niagara.” “The water of the Merced River flows with great velocity as it comes from the Vernal Falls.” Tourists on rocks beside rushing river. “The turbulent water means the falls are a short distance up stream.” Close-up of river. “Vernal Falls plunges three hundred feet from the granite ledge to the valley floor.” The falls from below - tourists on horseback looking at falls. “Nevada Falls is guarded by Liberty Cap. The water has cut a notch in the granite ledge through which the water flows.” Tourist on rock looking at falls - views of the falls. “The falling water of the Nevada Falls makes the beautiful Silver Apron.” Tourists looking at falls, “Long ago the Indians called the Yosemite the ‘Heart of the Sky Mountains.’ No better name has been found for this beautiful valley.” Views of the valley from above. “The End.” “Ford Educational Library.” [1924]
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