Celebrating Yosemite's 130th Anniversary with a special Polaroid Camera for Parks Project
In honor of Yosemite National Park’s 130th anniversary, Retrospekt is teaming up with Parks Project, a group dedicated to protecting America’s parklands, for another eye-catching Polaroid 600 instant film camera. Built by our skilled team of technicians, this camp-y camera pays tribute to the park and its extensive past.
So to celebrate, who’s ready for a quick history lesson?
The Northern Sierra Miwok people were the primary residents of the Yosemite Valley for thousands of years until the gold rush of 1849 brought droves of miners and settlers to California. The state’s stunning landscapes quickly attracted tourists and subsequent damage to the environment. In 1864, a group of passionate conservationists convinced President Abraham Lincoln to declare Yosemite Valley a public trust of California. This was the first time ever the U.S. government protected land for public enjoyment, and the move laid the groundwork for the National Park System. Yosemite Valley was declared a national park on October 1, 1890.
Over 130 years later, the park remains popular among campers, hikers, artists and those seeking the park’s sublime scenery. Over three million visitors flock to California each year to see Yosemite National Park’s giant sequoia trees and granite rock formations. The park’s stunning natural beauty certainly influenced the camera’s design. You’ll notice cliff-like shapes with peaks and valleys complemented by a sunny yellow body and rich, earthy brown accents. The camera’s design also takes inspiration from Yosemite National Park’s gift shops during the 1970s. Pretty groovy, man.
Our Polaroid camera is not Yosemite National Park’s only connection to photography. One of the most renowned photographers in American history, Ansel Adams, immortalized the park’s lakes, waterfalls and mountains in his unforgettable black-and-white portraits. Like Adams himself, we hope you’ll feel inspired by the great outdoors and fall in love with photography. Unlike Adams, you won’t have to wait weeks to get your photos developed!
The Yosemite Park Polaroid instant camera, like all cameras created here at Retrospekt, is made with vintage parts from the 1980s and 1990s. They’re taken apart and carefully restored by our repair team. The camera’s renovated insides are then covered in new plastic shells, and the camera is ready for its new home and another generation of photo-taking.
Proceeds from every Yosemite Park Polaroid camera sold will go to supporting Parks Project’s mission which, to date, has contributed over $1.5 million to park preservation projects and conservation efforts. The camera is available directly from Parks Project!
