Mill, Richmond, Virginia 1863 - 1867

Alexander Gardner captured this albumen print of a mill in Richmond, Virginia, likely in 1865 after the city fell to Union forces. The image shows the destructive force of war upon the built environment; the mill is in ruins, its brickwork shattered. This photograph is not just a depiction of destruction, but also a window into the materiality and means of production of the 19th century. We see the reliance on brick and wood, fundamental materials shaped by human labor. Water-powered mills like this one were essential to industrial processes, harnessing natural energy to grind grain or power machinery. The wheel is silent and the mill is no longer working; Gardner’s photograph captures a moment of profound change. By focusing on these remnants, Gardner’s image underscores how deeply interwoven industry, labor, and the physical world were in the American experience. It reminds us that even in ruins, the materiality of our world tells a powerful story.