Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Huntley concludes the book with a brief, yet poignant discussion of the complex historical relationship between entrepreneurs and the creation of sacred places such as Yosemite. By restoring Hutchings’s place in Yosemite’s creation, Huntley argues the modern environmental understandings of nature too often obscure the role of boosters, and more broadly capitalism, in the production of landscape. In this manner,
The Making of Yosemite joins a growing number of works underlining the complex connections between wilderness preservation and consumerism in American history, and perhaps, as she suggests, offers a more complete understanding of our relationship with Yosemite today.” -
Environmental History“An important examination of the role Hutchings played in not only the promotion but also the establishment and preservation of Yosemite National Park.” -
Historian“A worthwhile biography of the late nineteenth-century publisher, hotelier, and businessman James Mason Hutchings and his contribution to the early history of Yosemite National Park. Hutley situates her task as moving beyond the traditional image of Hutchings as 'the selfish, narrow-sighted businessman' that attempted to hamper the public preservation of Yosemite with his private land claims. She instead reveals a complicated individual who strove to combine the promotion of nature withi its preservation. . . . Throughout the book, Hutnley does well to promote Yosemite . . . She shows how Yosemite became a next stage for the Golden State following the gold rush - a new cultural symbol for San Francisco and later a beacon for the nation as a whole. . . .
The Making of Yosemite provides great insight into early promotions of California and the fashioning of park imagery. Huntley successfully recasts Hutchings in the historical narrative, revealing interesting inconsistencies in the historical record as well as challenging convetnional notions of binaries (such as nature versus culture, business versus environment.) The book is beautifully written, reflective, and nuanced. While some may take issue with the closing comments that business and environment can sit comfortabaly together . . . a valuable addition to California history.” -
Journal of American History“Environmental historian Huntley puts Yosemite pioneer hosteler James Hutchings in a broad perspective. . . . Recommended. All levels/libraries.” -
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