California News 1848 - 1852

"California News" is a daguerreotype portrait taken by Gabriel Harrison between 1848 and 1852. The photograph depicts four men, likely friends or acquaintances, gathered around a newspaper. The man at the left is engrossed in reading the news, while the others look on with varying degrees of interest. This intimate snapshot of everyday life captures the excitement and anticipation surrounding the California Gold Rush, a pivotal event in American history. The ornate gold frame further enhances the historical significance of the image, making it a valuable artifact for understanding early photography and social life in the 19th century.