Photography Exhibition: The National Portrait Gallery - Faces of the Frontier

Periodically the National Portrait Gallery has some incredible photographic portrait exhibitions. Faces of the Frontier: Photographic Portraits from the American West, 1845-1924 is such an exhibition.

This exhibition will run through January 24, 2010

The American West was dramatically reconstituted during the 80 years between the Mexican War and the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. This exhibition tells the story of these changes through 100 portrait photographs of the defining men and women of this period. It chronicles such events as the completion of the transcontinental railroad, on-going conflicts between Native Americans and non-natives, the emergence of the national parks movement and the admittance of 19 new states west of the Mississippi.

Visitors will encounter those who explored, fought over, developed and represented this vast territory—individuals who contributed to the transformation of this region's nature and identity such as Albert Bierstadt, Kit Carson, Geronimo, John Fremont, Annie Oakley and Brigham Young.

If you’re in the Washington, D.C. area through January, I strongly suggest you take in this terrific exhibition.

As I travel, I love seeing the work of other photographers as I hope you do. If you know of a new photographic exhibition which you think the Blog should publicize, please contact me.