A Chinese American chef named Tie Sing worked for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in California through the early 20th century. As head cook on major mapping expeditions, his role was far more critical than it might seem. His creative meals nourished surveyors while on grueling journeys through the rugged terrain of the American West. Sing became a legend within the USGS for his ingenuity, using minimal supplies and often cooking in extreme conditions at high altitudes. His skill and reliability were so valued that Stephen Mather, a founding figure of the National Park Service, hired him to cook for a 1915 trip to Yosemite intended to win political and financial support for the new parks system. The success of that trip helped lead to the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. Tie Sing’s story is a reminder that even those behind the scenes helped to explore the American landscape and ultimately to protect it.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates American history with the stories remarkable features of our past that are too often forgotten. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of men and women who helped to shape the progress of our nation.

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