Au Sable Chasm - Column Rocks 1860 - 1868

Purviance’s stereograph, *Au Sable Chasm - Column Rocks,* invites us into a space where nature's grandeur meets the burgeoning culture of tourism. This double image, popular in the late 19th century, offered viewers an immersive, almost three-dimensional experience of far-off locales. Consider the historical context: as industrialization transformed American society, there was a simultaneous yearning for the sublime beauty of the natural world. The chasm, a geological wonder, became a site for leisure, but also for reflecting on identity. Who had access to these spaces? How did tourism shape our understanding of both nature and class? Look closely, and you’ll see figures dwarfed by the landscape, a reminder of our place within it. The act of viewing itself—through the technology of the stereoscope—becomes a way of mediating our connection to the earth. This isn't just a picture; it's an invitation to reflect on how we frame our relationship with nature.