Cathedral Rocks, height 2,660 ft., Yo Semite Valley, Cal. 1870 - 1876

This is a stereograph of Cathedral Rocks in Yosemite Valley, California, made by J.J. Reilly, probably in the 1870s or 80s. Stereographs like this one were a popular form of entertainment and education. They gave viewers a sense of depth and realism. Yosemite, with its dramatic rock formations, became a symbol of American national identity, and these images also served a social purpose, helping to promote the idea of westward expansion and manifest destiny. The valley was becoming a tourist destination, but it had also become a site of contestation between white settlers and Native Americans. The name itself reflects the complex cultural history of the site, as 'Yosemite' was reportedly derived from a Miwok word meaning 'killer.' Looking at this stereograph, it’s important to consider not only its aesthetic qualities but also its place in the history of American expansionism. Historians can use sources like government documents, travelogues, and Native American oral histories, to help us better understand the complex history of this landscape and the role that images like this one played in shaping it.