Bierstadt was from the school of painting known as Luminism, which preceded the Tonalists.
George Inness is a well known Tonalist. This is his Sunrise in the Woods - 1887:
I've been a fan of Tonalism for some time, but only recently developed an appreciation for the surreal nature of Luminism. Tonalism has a touch of the surreal, but tends towards dreamlike simplification. Luminism is high fantasy.
Bierstadt's Among the Sierra Nevada, California -1868
I've always felt like it was just a bit too much. But, I imagine that was the point.
There's a Bierstadt here at the NGA. You all were in such a rush to get out of town after Friday's meetup; I guess you'll just have to come back.
I agree, the smaller galleries can provide a better experience than the mega museums. I have a long-term goal to visit the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, long-postponed due to the fact that the museum has been under renovations for years and is inconveniently in New York City.