Ready to Start 1871

Editor: This is a stereograph, a double photograph, by Elias Olcott Beaman, titled "Ready to Start." I’m struck by the arid landscape and the groups of people embarking on the river. What can you tell me about the context of this image? Curator: It’s important to recognize the historical context: this likely depicts an expedition, possibly related to resource extraction or territorial expansion. This seemingly innocuous scene speaks to the larger narrative of Manifest Destiny and the exploitation of land and its people. What is your reading of the relationship between the figures and the landscape? Editor: I hadn't considered the political implications. It seems like they're about to intrude upon that vast landscape, maybe even dominate it. Curator: Exactly. The “ready to start” suggests an active engagement with—and potential alteration of—the environment. We must ask, whose narrative is being centered, and who is being marginalized or erased from this visual account? Editor: Thinking about it that way really changes my perspective. Curator: Indeed, critically examining these images allows us to address the lasting impact of these historical forces.