Lafayette Houghton Bunnell (1824-1903), an explorer of Yosemite Valley, was born in Rochester, New York. In 1851, Bunnell was a member of the Mariposa Battalion that became the non-indigenous discoverers of the Yosemite Valley. Discovery was not the main purpose of the trip: the Battalion rode out in search of Native American tribal leaders involved in recent raids on American settlements. Bunnell explored the Valley and named many of its features. Discovery of the Yosemite, and the Indian war of 1851 (1880) contains his account of his exploration and the actions of the Battalion. The majority of what is known about Chief Tenaya and the Ahwahnees was from Bunnell's written accounts. Bunnell was the first person who encountered Chief Tenaya who subsequently wrote a book.

Dr Bunnell later served as a surgeon in the American Civil War.

Bunnell Point at the east end of Little Yosemite Valley is named after Bunnell.