Now On View

Presented here is a rare photograph of President Benjamin Harrison near Temescal Valley, California. He is standing, along with California Governor Samuel Markham, on the railway platform in Corona next to a display of tin bars from the Cajalco Tin Mine. The year is 1891.

Front side of rare photograph of President Benjamin Harrison in front of a stack of tin bars from the Cajalco Tin Mine, 1891, near Temescal Valley, California.

The front side has no text. The photograph is a faded black and white, glued to a dark green heavy weigh paperboard that has beveled edges painted in gold. There are two areas that have the paper torn away on the photograph; one is on the top right corner and the other is along the lower right bottom edge an inch and a quarter from the right side. There is a yellow dashed line that is repeatedly arching above the train. It appears to be a stain from another item that had been stored next to the photograph. The total dimensions of card and photograph is 6 1/2" wide x 4 1/4" high.

Backside of rare photograph of President Benjamin Harrison in front of a stack of tin bars from the Cajalco Tin Mine, 1891, near Temescal Valley, California.

The backside has the following text: "Benjamin Harrison - 1891, #15HJ, President Harrison and a pile of American Tin at South Riverside Cal. apr 23-1891."

The museum has classified this photograph for our collection as #PG0001. Original photograph is housed at the Temescal Valley Museum and is part of our permanent collection.

Listen to the Voice of Benjamin Harrison
This is believed to be the oldest known recording of any U.S. President.
It was recorded on an Edison wax cylinder sometime around 1889.

Transcript: "As president of the United States, I was present at the first Pan-American congress in Washington D.C. I believe that with God's help, our two countries shall continue to live side-by-side in peace and prosperity. . . Benjamin Harrison."