Gezicht op een waterval in Yosemite Valley, Californië before 1886

This engraving of a waterfall in Yosemite Valley, California, was made by Charles Leander Weed in the late 19th century and is found in a book titled "In the Heart of the Sierras." Weed's image appeared at a time when tourism to the American West was on the rise, fueled by the expansion of railways and the romanticization of the frontier. Yosemite Valley, with its awe-inspiring natural features, became a popular destination for travelers and artists alike. The book itself, with its detailed descriptions and illustrations, served as a guide for those seeking to experience the sublime beauty of the Sierra Nevada. It also hints at the institutional history of the American West and the rise of the tourism industry. The book mentions the “Yo Semite Stage and Turnpike Company” and indicates the role played by entrepreneurs in facilitating access to the natural landscape and constructing the very idea of a tourist destination. To understand Weed’s engraving fully, one might consult travel guides, promotional materials, and accounts from the period.