William Henry Jackson in the Southwest: USGS Expeditions 1874 – 1877
Explore a selection of Jackson's photographs, drawings, and paintings from his nine seasons as photographer with the United States Geological Survey.
Photographer William Henry Jackson worked nine field seasons with the United States Geological Survey of the Territories (USGS) in the 1870s. From 1874 through 1877, he traveled through Arizona, New Mexico, and southeast Utah.
His photographs and drawings from these expeditions provide invaluable documentation of Ancestral Puebloan sites, Puebloan daily life, breathtaking features of the landscape, and the activities of USGS survey members.
Mesa Verde
Led by guide John Moss (pictured), a miner and politician familiar with the area, Jackson and his team photographed Ancestral Puebloan sites throughout the Mesa Verde region.
Rocky Trail (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
King Solomon Mountain
Jackson's team had to carefully navigate the shallow, winding paths up King Solomon Mountain.
Ruins at the Mouth of Hovenweep (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
Ruins at the Mouth of Hovenweep
Today, Hovenweep National Monument is part of the National Park Service.
Poncho House
Jackson was enthralled with the Poncho House complex in Utah, describing it as "the largest and most important [ruin] I had seen so far." This 12th Century Ancestral Puebloan site is the largest in Utah.
The Hopi Village of "Shipaulave" (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
The Hopi Village of "Shipaulave"
Jackson conducted anthropological fieldwork at this village, now called Sipaulovi.
Hopi Village of Walpi (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
Hopi Village of Walpi
Jackson visited Puebloan villages in addition to photographing Ancestral Puebloan sites.
Moon House
The Ancestral Puebloan site now known as Moon House is located in Bears Ears National Monument. The dwelling contains numerous pictographs throughout its 49 rooms.
Montezuma Canyon, Utah (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
Montezuma Canyon, Utah
Having made maps for the Union Army, Jackson rekindled this talent for the USGS.
William Henry Jackson and Charles Aldritch (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
William Henry Jackson and Charles Aldritch
Jackson (right) is pictured here with his naturalist tentmate.
Cliff Dwellings (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
Cliff Dwellings
Jackson produced numerous sketches of Puebloan sites along with his photographs.
Pueblo Chores (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
Pueblo Chores
This sketch depicts vignettes of food preparation and drawing and storing water.
Ruins in Montezuma Canyon, 1875 (1875) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
Ruins in Montezuma Canyon, 1875
In Utah, Jackson noted "stones of unusual size" and Ancestral Puebloan sites.
Pueblo Woman
In 1877, Jackson experimented with dry plate photography, a new technology at the time. While the arid conditions in the Southwest unfortunately caused all his photographs from that season to be lost, his sketches and paintings of northern New Mexico remain.
Woman in Blue Dress (1877) by William Henry JacksonOriginal Source: National Park Service William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer, Scotts Bluff National Monument Exhibit
Woman in Blue Dress
Jackson likely painted this portrait of an unidentified woman en route to Acoma Pueblo.
William Henry Jackson participated in nine successful seasons with the United States Geological Survey, earning him widespread renown, and contributing to the establishment of the National Park Service.
Museum Management Program
The Museum Management Program develops virtual museum exhibits and educational materials to make National Park Service collections widely available.
Program staff developed this exhibit in collaboration with Bob Blair and Scotts Bluff National Monument staff.
Joan Bacharach, Senior Curator and Project Manager
Amber Dumler, Museum Specialist and Web Designer
Dara Shore, Museum Technician and Exhibit Curator
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Dan Morford, Superintendent
Justin Cawiezel, Chief Ranger
Robert Manasek, Curator (retired)
Dean Knudsen, Historian (retired)
Ken Mabry, Superintendent (retired)
Bob Blair, Photographer and Researcher (Volunteer in Park, VIP)
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