Gezicht op de Yosemite Valley met de Nevadawaterval en de Mercedwaterval vanaf Glacier Point before 1868

Carleton Watkins captured this view of Yosemite Valley with the Nevada and Merced waterfalls from Glacier Point using the wet plate collodion process. Watkins’ stunning landscape photographs played a significant role in shaping American perceptions of the West. In the mid-19th century, as the US government pursued policies of westward expansion, images like these promoted the idea of manifest destiny, often overshadowing the experiences and rights of indigenous populations. Watkins' photographs emphasize the grandeur and untouched nature of Yosemite, inviting viewers to imagine it as a land of limitless potential. Yet, this romanticized vision stands in stark contrast to the complex history of the valley, including the displacement and marginalization of its original inhabitants. What does it mean to view these images today, knowing the full history?