Carleton E. Watkins: Oregon Views

Watkins’s photographs offer some of the earliest depictions of American settlements and the burgeoning industrialization of the mid-Columbia River to the Pacific Coast. Made on 15 x 20 inch glass plates painstakingly coated and developed on site, the photographs required transporting a cumbersome tent, glass plates, and chemicals.

Ninteteenth century photograph of a sheer cliff side at the edge of a river

Ninteteenth century photograph of a steam ship at a pier on a river with a mountain in the background

Ninteteenth century photograph of a snow-covered mountain top

Ninteteenth century photograph of a river with a bridge connecting to a small island in the middle of the river

Ninteteenth century photograph of faraway buildings and houses, with a river behind them, from an elevated vantage point

Ninteteenth century photograph of a waterfall down a cliff

Carleton E. Watkins: Oregon Views

Watkins’s photographs offer some of the earliest depictions of American settlements and the burgeoning industrialization of the mid-Columbia River to the Pacific Coast. Made on 15 x 20 inch glass plates painstakingly coated and developed on site, the photographs required transporting a cumbersome tent, glass plates, and chemicals.

Ninteteenth century photograph of a sheer cliff side at the edge of a river — Carleton E. Watkins, Cape Horn, Columbia River, Oregon, 1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 27-3/4 x 21-1/2 inches (mount) [70.5 x 54.6 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a steam ship at a pier on a river with a mountain in the background — Carleton E. Watkins, Steamer “Cascade,” at the Lower Landing, 1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 21-1/2 x 27 inches (mount) [54.6 x 63.8 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a snow-covered mountain top — Carleton E. Watkins, The Summit of Mt. Hood, from the Hood River Ascent, ca. 1882

albumen print, 12-5/8 x 17-7/8 inches (mount) [32.1 x 45.4 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a river with a bridge connecting to a small island in the middle of the river — Carleton E. Watkins, Islands in the Columbia Upper Cascades, 1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 21-5/8 x 27 inches (mount) [54.9 x 68.6 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of faraway buildings and houses, with a river behind them, from an elevated vantage point — Carleton E. Watkins, City of Portland, Willamette River, 1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 21-1/2 x 26-7/8 inches (mount) [54.6 x 68.3 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a waterfall down a cliff — Carleton E. Watkins, Multnomah Falls, Columbia River, 1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 24 x 20 inches (mount) [61 x 50.8 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a sheer cliff side at the edge of a river

Carleton E. WatkinsCape Horn, Columbia River, Oregon

1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 27-3/4 x 21-1/2 inches (mount) [70.5 x 54.6 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a steam ship at a pier on a river with a mountain in the background

Carleton E. WatkinsSteamer “Cascade,” at the Lower Landing

1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 21-1/2 x 27 inches (mount) [54.6 x 63.8 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a snow-covered mountain top

Carleton E. WatkinsThe Summit of Mt. Hood, from the Hood River Ascent

ca. 1882

albumen print, 12-5/8 x 17-7/8 inches (mount) [32.1 x 45.4 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a river with a bridge connecting to a small island in the middle of the river

Carleton E. WatkinsIslands in the Columbia Upper Cascades

1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 21-5/8 x 27 inches (mount) [54.9 x 68.6 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of faraway buildings and houses, with a river behind them, from an elevated vantage point

Carleton E. WatkinsCity of Portland, Willamette River

1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 21-1/2 x 26-7/8 inches (mount) [54.6 x 68.3 cm]

Ninteteenth century photograph of a waterfall down a cliff

Carleton E. WatkinsMultnomah Falls, Columbia River

1867

mammoth plate albumen print, 24 x 20 inches (mount) [61 x 50.8 cm]