Initially associated with the Hudson River School, Bierstadt rose to prominence for his paintings of the Rocky Mountains, which established him as one of the best painters of the western American landscape.

[1] During the trip, Bierstadt spent several weeks doing en plein air studies in Yosemite Valley.

[3] With such thoughts of Paradise on his mind, Bierstadt painted an idealistic scene of the American wilderness, which he portrayed as completely untouched by man.

Overall, the panoramic scene is idyllic, as a cluster of deer linger peacefully in the center foreground.

[4] Perhaps Bierstadt hoped to preserve this paradise through paintings like these, as a few years later, the First transcontinental railroad was built, which introduced tourism to the American west.

[7] Shortly after its completion, in April 1864, the painting was exhibited at the "Metropolitan Fair, in aid of the United States Sanitary Commission.