Artemesia Spring before 1887

Frank Jay Haynes made this photograph of Artemesia Spring sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The image shows the natural thermal landscape of Yellowstone National Park. Haynes' work visually participated in the institutionalization of the American West as a site of tourism and leisure. His photographs, sold as postcards and in albums, were integral to shaping the popular perception of the American West, turning its rugged landscapes into consumable images. Haynes, as the official photographer of the Northern Pacific Railroad, was essentially producing marketing material. It's fascinating to think about how these images not only reflect but also actively construct the idea of "wilderness". What’s considered worthy of preservation and admiration? Who gets to access these spaces, and under what conditions? Understanding Haynes' work requires a consideration of the economic and political structures that enabled its production and distribution. By consulting archives, historical societies, and period publications, we can better understand the social life of this image.