Bridget and John Degnan came from Ireland to California in 1884. John found work as a laborer in the Yosemite Valley. Bridget became much more famous.

Life was hard at first. They had little money and lived in a barn near what is now Yosemite Lodge. Bridget baked bread in a small portable oven. As more people came through Yosemite Valley, more people wanted to eat Bridget's bread. The Degnans were able to buy a one-storey house and a larger oven. Bridget was so busy using this new oven that she produced 50 loaves of bread a day.

In 1898, John Degnan built a house for his family, which by this time included eight children. In front of the house was Bridget's bakery; as demand for Bridget's bread grew even more, so did the number of people asking for things to drink with the bread or for other things to eat. In time, the Degnans set up a cafe in the dining room of their house. They eventually added a small grocery store as well.

In 1900, Bridget got the use of a large brick Dutch oven and was baking more than 100 loaves of bread a day. They used the money they got for Bridget's bread to put all of their children (except one who had died young) through college and to fund a 50th anniversary trip for themselves back to Ireland.

Bridget Degnan died in 1940; John Degnan died in 1943. Their children kept up the bakery and other operations. Today's tourists can tour Degnan's bakery and can also order food (including homemade sandwiches) from Degnan's Deli.

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