 During his lifetime, Hill’s paintings were popular in California, costing as much as $10,000.Hill's best works are considered to be these monumental subjects, including "Great Canyon of the Sierra, Yosemite", "Vernal Falls" and "Yosemite Valley".His 1865 "View of the Yosemite Valley" was chosen to be the backdrop of the head table at Barack Obama's inaugural luncheon, to commemorate Lincoln's 1864 signing of the Yosemite Grant.