"The Big Four" Building, Old Sacramento SHP, California
Photo: Central Pacific Railroad Company and Huntington, Hopkins & Co. Hardware Store, Old Town Sacramento, CaliforniaYou may have recognized this building as the backdrop for my website. The Big Four Building consists of the Huntington, Hopkins & Co Hardware store, Stanford Brothers Warehouse, and Nathaniel Dingley Steam Coffee & Spice Mill. Aside from the California Missions and the discovery of gold at Sutter Mill, this building is one of the most historically significant locations in the shaping of modern-day California.
In 1855, Collis Huntington and Mark Hopkins started their hardware store business then after a few years began plotting along with their neighboring business owners to build a transcontinental railroad. In the years prior there was no easy way to travel to California. The tragic story of the Donner Party in 1846 was a testament to that. The Central Pacific Railroad put an end to that however. The founders used their newfound wealth in many ways, with Leland Stanford eventually going on to establish Stanford University for example.
On Saturday afternoon, this was the first place I went to photograph in Old Town Sacramento. I’m a big fan of old architecture and this building is as good as Gold Rush architecture gets. I find older architectural styles to be artistic and have a sense of character that modern architecture lacks. This may sound weird but I fantasize about historic buildings like the Big Four Building at times. I imagine what it was like to be alive in those eras and what really went on back in the day. Probably far from glamorous. Then I wonder what happened to the people. Do their descendants still visit their gravesites or are they forgotten about after their loved ones have passed?
Seeing historic landmarks is both fascinating and tragic at the same time because they are a reminder that our time on this planet is relatively short compared to the overall scheme of things. However our contributions can have forever lasting impact on the world during those few years of productivity we have. This is also what I like most about photography. It is both an art form and a medium where we can capture a fleeting moment in time forever.
And here is the link to my previous article about Chinese railroad workers.
Labels: California, Gold Country, historical subjects, images, photos, pictures, travel
posted by Richard @ 2:13 PM
5 comments
Richard Wong Photography: Image Boutique
5 Comments:
Hey Richard,
Since I'm on the road I haven't had a chance to comment on your blog lately, but wanted to take a second to say you have had some great posts!
Great photo - hey and no cars to ruin the view! I really like Wednesdays shot as well!
Ron
Thanks Ron. The SHP section of Old Sacramento is closed off to cars and fortunately this building is in that section. I would like to see the entire Old Sacramento district shut off to cars as well though because there are other buildings just as pretty as this but the streets ruin the photo ops. Only on Gold Rush Days are all the streets turned into dirt and closed to cars unfortunately.
Neat shot Richard, I know what you mean by car clutter "as I call it" there are a lot of old beautiful buildings here in my hometown, the problem is getting a shot them without 5 cars in the way.
Lovely buildings. I've always done nature photos, but recently started a bit of architecture and really enjoyed it. Thanks for some inspiration. And I love the no car rule.
Thanks Bernie. Yes I would agree that Madison is every bit as beautiful as Old Sacramento but way more difficult to shoot.
Thanks for the compliments Barbara. I started off shooting flowers and landscapes as well, it took me a while longer to get into the other stuff that I shoot now.
Post a Comment
<< Home