Giant's Gateway, Cañon of North Fork 1876

This stereograph, Giant's Gateway, Cañon of North Fork, was published in 1876 by W. I. Marshall and captures a view within Yellowstone National Park. Stereographs like this were immensely popular, offering a momentary escape into the American landscape, but we should consider whose land this really is. These images played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of the American West, often romanticizing it as a land of endless opportunity, while eliding the violent displacement of Indigenous peoples. The very act of naming this place "Giant's Gateway" speaks to a history of imposing narratives onto the land. Consider how the framing emphasizes the grandeur of the natural landscape, inviting viewers to marvel at its untouched beauty. Yet, this idea of untouched wilderness is a fiction, as it erases the presence and stewardship of Native communities who have lived here for centuries. This photograph is not just a landscape; it's a loaded representation. As you look, think about the stories it tells and, more importantly, the stories it leaves out.