Quartz Mill, Silver Mountain, Alpine County, California, No. 920 from the series "California"
Medium
Albumen print, stereo
Dimensions
Each image: 7.8 × 7.7 cm (3 1/8 × 3 1/16 in.); Card: 8.5 × 17.5 cm (3 3/8 × 6 15/16 in.)
Classification
stereograph (albumen)
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
143980
Art Historical Context
Step into the rugged world of 1860s California with *Quartz Mill, Silver Mountain, Alpine County,* (No. 920 from the "California" series a captivating stereograph by Thomas House and Company. Produced in 1865, this albumen print captures the industrial heart of the Sierra Nevada mining boom, showcasing a quartz mill—vital for crushing ore to extract precious gold and silver. Houseworth's firm, a leading San Francisco photography studio, specialized in documenting the American West, turning remote frontiers into accessible spectacles for Eastern audiences. The medium is a highlight: this stere...