A War, a Wilderness, and a Camera
In June 1864, during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln signed a law protecting Yosemite Valley—marking the first time the U.S. government preserved land for public use. Behind this moment was Carleton Watkins, a little-known photographer whose massive glass-plate images stunned the nation.
From Gold Dreams to Glass Plates
Watkins left New York for California’s gold rush in 1849 but failed to strike it rich. He turned to photography, learning the craft under Robert Vance. In 1861, he hauled a ton of gear on mules to Yosemite, where he captured sweeping views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Cathedral Rocks on mammoth glass plates nearly two feet wide.
The Photos That Moved a President
His images debuted in New York in 1862 to wide acclaim. Emerson admired them, Bierstadt headed west, and Senator John Conness—who owned Watkins’ work—shared them with President Lincoln. In 1864, Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, protecting the land from private ownership.
A Blind End, a Lasting Impact
Though his fame faded, Watkins continued photographing the American West. He lost his sight, home, and negatives in the 1906 earthquake. He died in poverty in 1916, two months before the creation of the National Park Service.
In the middle of the Civil War, as battlefields bled and cities trembled, Abraham Lincoln paused to sign a bill protecting Yosemite Valley.
It was a groundbreaking act-but it might never have happened without Carleton Watkins, a little-known photographer with a vision…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/vrTugiLg6A
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) May 12, 2025