The Sentinel House 1870

John P. Soule made this stereograph, titled “The Sentinel House,” in the late 19th century, using photographic techniques to capture a scene in Yosemite Valley, California. Stereographs like this one were popular forms of entertainment and documentation, offering viewers a 3D-like experience of distant places. The image presents a modest dwelling surrounded by towering trees, with figures of tourists gathered nearby. The building, known as the Sentinel House, served as an early form of tourist accommodation in the valley. In its time, this would have been a relatively new and novel attraction. This photograph speaks to the growing popularity of Yosemite as a tourist destination, and the way it's natural wonders were being packaged and consumed. The romantic vision of the American West, combined with the expanding railway system, made places like Yosemite accessible to a wider audience. This also raises questions about the impact of tourism on the environment and the displacement of indigenous populations. To learn more, one could consult period travel guides, historical society archives, and environmental studies of Yosemite. What we see in the image has been influenced by cultural and historical circumstances.