Tacoye, The North Dome, 3729 Feet 1861

Carleton Watkins made this albumen print of what he called “Tacoye, The North Dome, 3729 Feet.” Photographs like this one played a crucial role in the 19th-century effort to preserve the American West. Watkins's image captures the monumental scale and sublime beauty of Yosemite Valley. The photograph, made in California, was produced amidst debates about how the land should be used. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 increased pressure on the natural landscape and Native American populations. Watkins's photographs were displayed in galleries and world expositions. They helped promote the idea of wilderness preservation and contributed to the establishment of Yosemite as a national park in 1890. Art historians analyze the cultural and historical forces that shape art. Archival documents, exhibition reviews, and period publications can help us understand the role of photographs in shaping attitudes toward nature and land use.