In 1851, when the first white men visited Yosemite Valley, they noted its unusual beauty. The reports of this earthly paradise soon attracted artists, such as Virgil Williams and Albert Bierstadt, whose images helped raise public interest in preserving the valley before it would be forever lost to settlers. In 1864, the Congress of the United States set it aside for "public use, resort and recreation," effectively creating the first American national park. The valley soon became a popular destination for tourists from Sacramento, San Francisco, and beyond. The roads were built, and hotels were erected.