The Scenic California collection contains 14 mounted albumen prints taken circa 1885 by Carleton E. Watkins. Originally included as items in Watkins' New Series Pacific Coast Views, the prints feature various areas throughout California. The collection especially represents San Francisco and vicinity, picturing such points of interest as the Palace Hotel, City Hall, the Cliff House and Seal Rocks, the North Beach area as seen from Telegraph Hill, Alcatraz Island and the surrounding San Francisco Bay, Marin County, and the Golden Gate. Also pictured are scenes of a picnic outing in the redwood groves of the Russian River, a view of Santa Cruz, a beach scene at Camp Capitola, and a view of the Yosemite Falls.

Carleton E. Watkins was born in Oneonta, Oswego county, New York, on November 11, 1829. He was the youngest of five children of a Scottish innkeeper. During his youth he became acquainted with Collis P. Huntington, who frequented his father's hotel. Soon after the discovery of gold, both young men went to California, where Huntington later became one of the Big Four who built the Central Pacific Railroad.

14 photographic albumen prints, 18 x 22 cm.; mounted, 23 x 36 cm. 14 digital objects

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Pictorial Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Restricted originals. Use viewing prints only: shelved as BANC PIC 1965.008--PIC. Use of originals only by permission of the Curator of Pictorial Collections, The Bancroft Library.