Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point Trail

Bierstadt's legacy would by tied to his paintings of the untouched western frontier of the United States. The young country was struggling with the aftermath of a civil war and the hopeful renderings of the untamed west brought great excitement to the people. Bierstadt was well aware of the feelings of hope and adventure his paintings provided and would often depict his landscapes in an ideal way. The push towards the west had already begun and the New York residents romantic paintings would help fuel the movement.