Sugar Loaf Mountain, ca. 1866.
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Stereographs
A full team on the Sierras
LC-USZ62-27399
Stereographs are two photographs mounted side-by-side that appear three-dimensional when placed in a viewer called a stereoscope. In the mid to late nineteenth century, collecting stereographs was a popular middle class pastime. People acquired stereographs of tourist spots they had visited, as well as exotic locales that they would only experience through the wonder of the stereoscope. Viewing stereographs was a common activity, much like watching television or going to the movies today.
The Lawrence and Houseworth collection contains half-stereographs, or only one side of the stereo pair. These photographs can not be viewed in three-dimensions. The Library does have approximately 18 Lawrence and Houseworth full stereographs (see Related Collections).
