Fall Creek, Ithaca, N.Y. 3d. or Foaming Fall, 35 feet high 1860 - 1865

This stereograph card shows a view of Fall Creek in Ithaca, New York, and was produced by J.C. Burritt in the late 19th century using two nearly identical photographs mounted side-by-side. Stereographs like this one were popular forms of entertainment and education in the mid-to-late 1800s in the United States. Viewing them through a stereoscope gave the illusion of a three-dimensional image, which was a novelty at the time. They provided people with access to distant places and events, contributing to a sense of shared visual culture. The popularity of stereographs coincided with the expansion of photography as both an artistic and commercial medium. Institutions like photography studios played a key role in shaping public taste and documenting American life. Understanding the history of photography and its impact on visual culture helps us better understand the social context in which this stereograph was produced and consumed.