Cape Horn near Celilo 1867

Carleton E. Watkins' "Cape Horn near Celilo" (1867) is a striking landscape photograph of a railroad track running along the Columbia River in Oregon. Watkins, a renowned photographer of the American West, captures the stark beauty of the landscape with its dramatic rock formations and winding river. This image is a testament to the transformative impact of westward expansion and the rise of the railroad in the late 19th century. The composition emphasizes the stark contrast between the natural world and the man-made structure, reflecting the era's fascination with the relationship between human progress and nature. This photograph, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a vital document of a critical moment in American history.