We here at BHS just gathered in the kitchen to watch the Inauguration. We tried to spot our colleagues who made the trip to DC among the inspiring millions on the Mall. Oral historians sixty years from now will be saying: “Tell me what it was like to see the first black person elected President of the US…”
Interestingly, this painting, View of the Yosemite Valley (Thomas Hill, 1865), hung behind President and First Lady Obama at their Inaugural Luncheon and is on loan from the New York Historical Society.
Why was a painting by Thomas Hill choosen for this moment? I know it refers to President Lincoln, the Civil War and the granting of Yosemite as a N.P. I would have expected quite a different choice, maybe a work of art representing an new era of hope but also change? Apart from being a beautiful painting on Yosemite, Hill’s “View of the Yosemite Valley” is also representative for a rather traditional and nationalistic view on American history.
Good question – here’s what YosemiteBlog.com had to say on the matter:
This year’s Inauguration Ceremonies of President-elect Barack Obama celebrate the 200th birthday (Feb. 12, 1809) of President Abraham Lincoln whom many consider to be have been one of our greatest Presidents ever. In celebration of Lincoln’s accomplishments the ceremonies will contain items of historical significance to the Lincoln Presidency, including Yosemite Valley. To commemorate Lincoln’s signing of the 1864 Yosemite Grant, which set aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias as a public reserve, a Thomas Hill painting of Yosemite Valley will be featured at the 2009 Inaugural Luncheon.
http://yosemiteblog.com/2009/01/15/thomas-hill-painting-of-yosemite-backdrop-for-inaugural-luncheon/