Nineteenth century Americans were captivated by the newfound natural wonders of their young country. Fueled by the 1849 California Gold Rush and the establishment of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, westward expansion was in full swing. While American painters like Albert Bierstadt and John Frederick Kensett glorified the seemingly untouched wilderness in their paintings, the Currier and Ives lithography firm made the country’s beauty and bounty available to everyday Americans through lithographs of similar subjects.  Operating from 1835-1907, the firm bolstered national pride by depicting stunning vistas such as those found in the Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls, Salt Lake, and the White Mountains.