Images of the Wild West

[Heisler]

We all have different images of what the Wild West looks like in our heads, mostly from our favorite Hollywood western movies or maybe a favorite TV series like the "Wild, Wild, West" or "Gunsmoke". If you want to get an idea of what western America really looked liked around the 1870 period you won't get much closer than this selection of pictures by Timothy O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan was a contemporary of the ACW with Matthew Brady and after the war headed out west with his camera. If you need a little inspiration there are some truly stunning images in this collection (I should mention that this also includes his ACW photographs as well). Here are a few teasers:




And here is the direct link to his collection in the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=timothy%20o'sullivan&st=gallery

[Bugsda]

Excellent! Thanks 

[Elk101]

Great find, thanks for sharing it.

[Ray Earle]

Brilliant. 

[FifteensAway]

Nice.  Those two images Heisler posted illustrate why I plan to try and build my town at various elevations rather than just flat.  Most of the west was not flat, even parts of Texas aren't flat!  Now, Kansas, well....

[Elbows]

Don't be fooled...MOST of Texas is flat.    Arizona is quite flat in most places, but has many mountainous areas.  Eventually I may use some foam to create some hillocks under my gaming mats.

[Deedles]

Great pictures - anyone any recommendations for books with these kind of photo?

[romelll]

Nice

[FifteensAway]

Deedles, see if you can find any of the Time-Life books, I do believe they have quite a few photos of this nature in them.  And there are lots and lots of volumes.  Check your local used book store or on-line supply (used).

[Heisler]

I would recommend the Time-Life books as well. I have looked around for book collections but have come up pretty empty.

[Clint Eastwood]

Really good pics of the old west. These are nice and clear compared to a lot of others I've seen.

[Cubs]

This one lives in my faves file - http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm

New York Public Library's enormous image archive ... there's not enough room for me to even explain which bits I have explored and what I have found, but it's a great way to while away some time.