James Mason Hutchings was born February 10, 1820 in England. He emmigrated to the U.S. in 1848, then went to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush. He became wealthy as a miner, lost it all in a bank failure, then became wealthy again from publishing. In 1855, seeking material for his magazine, Hutchings lead the first tourist party into Yosemite, then wrote about it in the October 1859 issue of his Hutchings’ Illustrated California Magazine. This was the first illustrated article about Yosemite Valley, erasing much doubt about the scenic wonders of Yosemite Valley. Mr. Hutchings was one of the first settlers in Yosemite Valley, and was a tireless promoter of himself and Yosemite. For several years he ran a hotel in the Valley. Mr. Hutchings later wrote In the Heart of the Sierras, a comprehensive book about Yosemite based on his earlier magazine articles and books. Mr. Hutchings died while visiting Yosemite on October 31, 1902.

—Dan Anderson, 2004

Illustrations

Bibliographical Information

Hutchings, James Mason (1820 - 1902) “The Great Yo-Semite Valley,” Hutchings’ Illustrated California Magazine, 4(4):1-28 (October 1859). This series continued in 3 other installments, November and December 1859, and March 1860. This series was reprinted as part of Hutchings’ book Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in California.

For more information about Hutchings and his California Magazine, see “Chapter II: James Mason Hutchings and His Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity; The Publicist-Innkeeper Who Brought Yosemite to the Attention of the World,“ in Yosemite’s Yesterdays vol. 2 (Yosemite: Flying Spur Press, 1991) by Hank Johnston.

Digitized by Dan Anderson, July 2004. These files may be used for any non-commercial purpose, provided this notice is left intact.
—Dan Anderson, www.yosemite.ca.us

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