Fremont's Peak in the Wind River Gorge, Wyoming c. 1875

William Henry Jackson made this photograph, “Fremont's Peak in the Wind River Gorge, Wyoming," sometime in the late 19th century. This was a period when the American West was undergoing rapid transformation due to expansion and industrialization. Jackson’s photographs served not only as documentation, but also played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of the land. The sublime grandeur and seemingly untouched wilderness further encouraged the myth of the frontier, a narrative that often glossed over the displacement and marginalization of indigenous populations. It idealized the landscape as a space for white settlement and economic exploitation. These images, while beautiful, promoted a romanticized view of the West which served very specific political and social agendas. In that sense, this photograph is a powerful artifact of its time, reflecting both the allure and the problematic narratives of the American West.