William Henry Jackson’s photographic history to be displayed at the Trails Center
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CASPER, Wyo. - Experience William Henry Jackson’s 1871 Yellowstone exploration at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center from Oct. 4 through Nov. 25, during the free art exhibit, “Let Wonderland Tell Its Story: William Henry Jackson’s 1871 Alberttypes.”
A year before the declaration of America’s first national park, a geological survey led by Ferdinand Hayden headed west accompanied by the owner of Jackson Brothers Photographers in Omaha, Nebraska. William Henry Jackson, an avid artist from boyhood, eventually spent years accompanying Hayden’s explorations of the west. His collection of Yellowstone images in 1871 was especially beneficial, as it helped solidify the importance of protecting the nation’s wondrous landscapes.
Photographer and collection’s owner, Lee Silliman, spent seventeen years in the backcountry of Yellowstone where he delved into the history of photographing the park.
“Plans were in place to make the images accessible to America’s masses,” Silliman explained. “Using the German alberttype technique, prints were to be published in album form at a reasonable price in order to conjure up excitement and enthusiasm for the first national park.”
Before this could happen however, a fire overtook the photographic studio charged with the work, and most of the plates were destroyed. What remain are a few sets of the alberttypes from the printer’s proofs. Before the invention of Kodak roll film, mass production of prints was a laborious and somewhat expensive process. Jackson’s negatives were taken using the wet, collodion glass plate process, and on this excursion, he carried nearly 300 pounds of equipment into the rough terrain of what is now Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
A two-month-long temporary exhibit will include on rotation 61 alberttype photos. Four images were captured during a similar trek in 1872, while the rest depict the 1871 exploration. An original W.H. Jackson alberttype print will also be on display.
The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The BLM encourages visitors to connect to their public lands and America’s natural and cultural heritage. For more information, please contact the NHTIC by calling (307) 261-7780.
The NHTIC is a public-private partnership between the BLM and the National Historic Trails Center Foundation. The facility is located at 1501 N. Poplar Street, Casper, Wyoming.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.