Faces of the Frontier: Photographic Portraits from the American West, 1845-1924
September 25, 2009 through January 24, 2010
Second Floor

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The American West was dramatically reconstituted during the 80 years between the Mexican War and the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. This exhibition tells the story of these changes through 100 portrait photographs of the defining men and women of this period. It chronicles such events as the completion of the transcontinental railroad, on-going conflicts between Native Americans and non-natives, the emergence of the national parks movement and the admittance of 19 new states west of the Mississippi.

Visitors will encounter those who explored, fought over, developed and represented this vast territory—individuals who contributed to the transformation of this region's nature and identity such as Albert Bierstadt, Kit Carson, Geronimo, John Fremont, Annie Oakley and Brigham Young.

A fully illustrated publication accompanies the exhibition. Frank H. Goodyear III, associate curator of photographs, is the exhibition curator.





Image
Edward Sheriff Curtis Self-Portrait / 1899 / Gelatin silver print / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

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