Ascending Mt. Washington 1855 - 1875

The Kilburn Brothers made this stereograph, a double image on card stock, of the railway ascending Mount Washington in the late 19th century. Tourism in the White Mountains surged during this period, transforming the region into a bustling destination for city dwellers seeking respite in nature. These stereographs catered to a growing appetite for visual documentation and entertainment. The creation of the Mount Washington Cog Railway, completed in 1869, epitomized human ambition and ingenuity, but also spoke to an increasing desire to master the natural landscape. Consider that this railway allowed people of varying physical abilities and social classes to experience the summit, democratizing access to natural wonders in a way that challenged traditional notions of exploration and adventure. The railway and the stereograph each played a role in shaping a shared cultural experience, inviting viewers to partake in a narrative of progress, leisure, and the picturesque.