Audio tour Skylight Gallery

Painter Albert Bierstadt's rich, monumental landscapes offered a 19th century vision of the stunning national treasures of the American western wilderness - natural resources that were unseen by most. For so many people, the majestic beauty of the West as pictured on his canvases and those of his contemporaries was a revelation... and inspiration. Images of these beautiful wild places proved influential in shaping public opinion about these natural wonders, helped inspire popular movements to preserve them for all to enjoy, and culminated in the creation of our national park system.