Exhibited at the REACH Museum – 2023
This exhibit featured thirty-one historic prints selected from U.S. Pacific Railroad survey reports, offering a rare glimpse into the Pacific Northwest as it appeared in the 1850s. The steel engravings included scenes along the Columbia River, as well as botanical and zoological illustrations that highlight the region’s diverse natural history.
The artwork showcased the talents of several 19th-century survey artists—including John Mix Stanley, John J. Young, and John H. Richards—who documented the rugged beauty of the landscape while scouting potential railroad routes. These artists traveled on foot and horseback through remote areas, often working in difficult conditions where early photography was impractical. Despite the small scale of their drawings, the images conveyed remarkable detail and a strong sense of place.
Curated by Lee Silliman, the exhibition drew from two separate U.S. government surveys to depict the Columbia River as it cuts through the Cascade Mountains. The prints offered visitors a compelling look at the intersection of art, exploration, and regional history in the American West.
