Virginia City

Date Uploaded: November 18, 2024

Permanent Link: http://wnhpc.com/details/fb953742556793071

Contributor: Nevada Ghost Towns and Historic Sites on Facebook

Source: Facebook: Nevada Ghost Towns and Historic Sites

Source URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=953742556793071&set=a.465020845665247

Source Caption: "Claim Stakes, between Sierra Nevada and North Consolidated – Virginia City" In this 1878 photograph by renowned photographer Carlton Watkins, two men stand preparing "claim stakes," marking the boundary between the Sierra Nevada Mining Company and the Consolidated Virginia Mining Company in Storey County, Nevada. One of the men appears to be holding physical claim maps to use to mark the mining claims boundaries in the bustling heart of Comstock Lode territory. Image courtesy of The Bancroft Library.Carlton Watkins (1829–1916) was one of the most famous landscape photographers of the American West. Known for his breathtaking, large-format images, he made a significant impact by documenting the unspoiled landscapes of places like Yosemite and the mining regions of California and Nevada. His work helped raise awareness of the natural beauty and economic potential of these areas, and some even credit his photographs with influencing the decision to preserve Yosemite as a national park.Watkins was commissioned by mining companies, among others, to document the landscapes and operations of the booming gold and silver rushes. His ability to capture both the grandeur of the natural landscape and the stark industrialism of mining made him an artist in high demand. His work remains a vital historical record of the expansion and development of the American West. See less

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