Charles Christian Nahl

Leaving political unrest in the Electorate of Hesse and France, Nahl immigrated to New York City in 1848 with family and friends.

He and his family settled in what became part of the United States, living in Sacramento until 1852 and then in San Francisco.

At the time of rising political tensions in Electorate of Hesse in the 1840s, Nahl and his friend Frederick August Wenderoth (1819–1884) moved to Paris in 1846.

Having no luck in mining along the Yuba River, Nahl and his young half-brother Arthur opened a studio with Wenderoth in Sacramento, which was booming with mining-related businesses.

At their home in San Francisco's Bush Street, they created a backyard gymnasium that served as the early version of the Olympic Club.

His brother Arthur Nahl suggested naming it the "San Francisco Olympic Club".

Charles Christian Nahl
Miners in the Sierras
Nahl's painting of a Native American family entitled "Night Watch" was purchased by Walter Knott on the recommendation of his art director Paul von Klieben and displayed for many years at Knott's Berry Farm as shown in this photo. It was later donated by Knott descendants to the Orange County Museum of Art .