Background
Tharp was born in Michigan in 1828.
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Hale Tharp
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Career
They settled in Placerville, where Tharp married Swanson. Tharp then began mining in California’s
In the summer of 1856, Tharp went to Tulare County to establish a preemption homestead, with the intent to return later to ranch cattle. He built a shake and brush shack near the confluence of the Kaweah River and Horse Creek, east of Visalia and south of Three Rivers.
He then returned to Placerville.
Tharp then sought cattle summer pasturage. Led by the local Yokut Indians, Tharp "discovered" Crescent Meadow and Log Meadow near the Giant Forest.
He claimed grazing rights there for several years. Tharp"s Log is a home Tharp built in a hollowed Giant sequoia (dendron gigantuem) log at Log Meadow.
lieutenant is restored and visited by tourists in National Park today, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hale Tharp, along with stepsons George and John Swanson, were the first non-Native Americans settler known to ascend the granite dome Moro Rock.
