| 1858 | Giant Forest discovered by Hale Tharp, of Three Rivers, Calif., in September. |
| 1861 | First ascent of Moro Rock by Hale Tharp and George and John Swanson. |
| 1865 | Last of Potwisha Tribe of Indians left the park area. |
| 1873 | First ascent of Mount Whitney by A. H. Johnson, C. D. Begole, and John Lucas on August 18. |
| 1875 | Giant Forest first visited by John Muir. |
| 1879 | Sherman Tree discovered and named by James Wolverton, August 7. |
| 1881 | Samuel Pierpont Langley conducted researches in solar heat on summit of Mount Whitney. |
| 1881 | First ascent of Mount Kaweah, by J. W. A. Wright, F. H. Wales, and W. B. Wallace. |
| 1885 | Clough Cave discovered by William O. Clough, April 6. "Kaweah Colonists" filed on Giant Forest land, October. |
| 1886 | Giant Forest North Fork Road construction commenced by colony. |
| 1890 | Park created by act of Congress on September 25; second national park to be established. |
| 1891 | First administration of park by Capt. J. H. Dorst, Fourth United States Cavalry, and troop. Entered park June 7. |
| 1899 | First official survey of park by Isaac N. Chapman. Completed in 1900. |
| 1900 | First appropriation ever granted for park operations ($10,000). |
| 1902 | First transportation and camp operations permittee, Broder & Hopping. |
| 1903 | First road into Giant Forest completed August 15. |
| 1904 | First automobile entered Giant Forest, May 24. Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Luper, Vallejo, Calif. |
| 1905 | First white child born at Giant Forest (Forest Grunigen) August 31. |
| 1907 | First telephone line constructed, Three Rivers to Giant Forest, 33 miles. First post office established at Giant Forest. (Ranger.) |
| 1909 | Stone house on top of Mount Whitney built by Smithsonian Institution for solar heat observations. |
| 1914 | Walter Fry appointed first civilian superintendent. |
| 1919 | Exclusive jurisdiction over park ceded by California. |
| 1920 | Walter Fry appointed first U. S. Commissioner; Col. John R. White appointed superintendent. |
| 1926 | Park enlarged to include Kern district, increasing area from 252 to 604 square miles. |
| 1934 | Generals Highway opened to General Grant National Park. |
