Buttermilk Creek, Ithaca, N.Y. Steeple Rock from the Fall above. Height about 50 feet 1860 - 1865

This stereograph of Buttermilk Creek in Ithaca, New York, by J.C. Burritt, invites us into a world where nature and perception intertwine. Stereographs like this one offered viewers in the 19th century an almost tactile experience of landscapes far removed from their daily lives. But they also represent a particular way of seeing – one shaped by the desire to capture and consume the natural world. As you gaze at the image, consider what it meant to frame and possess a landscape in this way, especially during a time of westward expansion and industrial growth in the United States. The seemingly objective view presented belies a deeper story about our relationship with nature, one that continues to evolve as we grapple with questions of environmentalism, preservation, and our place within the natural world. Consider how this image, in its own way, shapes our understanding of what it means to see and experience the world around us.