Buildings of Sutro Tunnel 1875

Carleton Watkins made this albumen silver print, “Buildings of Sutro Tunnel,” sometime in the 19th century. Watkins was commissioned to document the landscape and infrastructure of the American West, often focusing on sites of industrial activity. This photograph captures the stark reality of the Sutro Tunnel, a feat of engineering designed to drain water from the Comstock Lode mines. The image presents a seemingly objective view of the built environment, but it also speaks volumes about the exploitation of both natural resources and human labor. The tunnel was primarily built by Chinese laborers, who faced discrimination and dangerous working conditions. The "American Dream" rested on the backs of immigrants and people of color whose stories are often omitted from these historical landscapes. As we consider Watkins’ photograph, let's reflect on the complex layers of history embedded within this landscape, and the human cost of industrial progress.