Henry David Thoreau s Photography And The Expansion Of...
The few voices that did express concern went unheard, that is until the writings of Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, John Burroughs, Sigurd Olson, and Archibald MacLeish (Cantrill
Oravec, 1996; Dunaway, 2005; Neuzil, 2008; Spaulding, 1995). Although Thoreau s writings of the
natural world did not have much impact during his lifetime, as discussed later, they did influence
many great thinkers that followed. Other notable naturalists and politicians that sought for
preservation of the land include John Muir, David Brower, Joseph LeConte, Aldo Leopold, George
Perkins Marsh, Gifford Pinchot, also wrote and spoke out about preservation of land, nature, and
wildlife. For example, Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most influential writers ... Show more
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Promotion of Yosemite for preservation was backed by an unlikely source, supporters of the expansion
of the railroad system, which granted additional land to the Union Pacific and Central Pacific so they
could follow through on their grand plans to build a steam powered transcontinental connection
(Levitt, 2002b, p. 27). Yet, support from railroad interests also led to endless demand for wood and
unlimited building both residential and commercial entities that deteriorated America s forests.
Awareness for the pristine nature and wildlife in the Yellowstone region received similar accolade and
concern for preservation as Yosemite (see Bossen, 1982; DeLuca Demo, 2000; Jacoby, 2001; National
Park Service, 2012). Just as Watkins compelling photos were influential in the preservation of
Yosemite, other photographers were motivated to advocate on behalf of the land. William Henry
Jackson made numerous photos of Yellowstone for the U.S. Geological Survey and lobbied Congress
for preservation of the region. In 1872, President Ulysses Grant signed into law the Yellowstone Act
that set aside more than two million acres of land. This was the first land designated by the federal
administration set aside for a national park accessible for all the nation s people for all time (Cahn,
1981, p. 129). As retold by history, a variety of activities in
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