Volunteer Repeat Photography

A person sets up a repeat photograph of Blackfoot Glacier in Glacier National Park.

Your photographs could help the USGS expand their collection of repeat photographs of glaciers in Glacier National Park.  Documenting the loss of ice and changing landscapes in Glacier National Park is a valuable component of the USGS Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems program.  With a short window of time to photograph glacier margins, and limited staff to traverse the park in search of photos points, the involvement of volunteer photographers allows the USGS to expand collection of contemporary photographs that comprise the USGS Repeat Photography Project.  Participation involves printing historic photos from the list below, locating and photographing the repeat photo, and submitting photos and copyright agreement (see protocol for detailed instructions).  Volunteers must adhere to Glacier National Park's backcountry camping fees, regulations and advanced reservation policies.    

Please note: The content of this website is for educational purposes only and how an individual/party uses it is not the responsibility of the USGS. Each individual/party that uses the information to access repeat photography locations is doing so voluntarily and is under no contract or agreement with the USGS, and is not in any way representing the USGS or the Federal government. By accessing, downloading and using information on this website, the individual/party agrees to be responsible for their activities and actions, including personal safety. As a federal agency, USGS liability is limited by the Federal Tort Claims Act, codified at 28 USC 2671 et seq.

USGS scientist shoots a repeat photograph of Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park to illustrate glacial recession due to impacts of climate change.Lisa McKeon, USGS

Submission of your photographs to the USGS requires that you agree to the copyright release, thereby including the images in the public domain consistent with USGS policy. Accepted photographs will be archived as a visual record and they may also be used in USGS publications, presentations, websites and exhibitions of photo pairs. USGS will credit the photographer when the image is used.

While most of the images linked from this website are in the public domain, the images from the University of Montana are provided under the restriction that these high resolution versions be used solely for the scientific purpose of relocating the photograph, under the guidelines set forth in the protocol provided on this page. For information about other uses and permission, please visit the University of Montana Archive & Special Collections website. Photo numbers included in each photograph’s filename (eg 486.IX.067.070) may be used as identifiers when searching the U of M collections for these specific photos.

Thank you for your interest in helping the USGS compile a contemporary photographic record of the glaciers of Glacier National Park. We will be interested in seeing what your hikes among the mountains and glaciers reveal.

For your trip - please download and read the following:

• short video on relocating photo points

USGS Copyright Dedication Agreement

Repeat Photography Protocol

Trip Planning:

• Glacier National Park Information
• Backcountry Camping in GNP

Historic Photos to be Repeated

Map of glaciers to be repeated for Volunteer Photographers in Glacier National Park.

Ahem Glacier

• Ahern Glacier, circa 1911. Image 1 of 6
• Ahern Glacier, circa 1911. Image 2 of 6
• Ahern Glacier, circa 1934. Image 3 of 6
• Ahern Glacier, circa 1911. Image 4 of 6
• Ahern Glacier, circa 1910. Image 5 of 6
• Ahern Glacier, circa 1940. Image 6 of 6

Blackfoot Glacier

• Blackfoot Glacier, circa 1914. Image 1 of 5
• Blackfoot Glacier, circa 1914. Image 2 of 5
• Blackfoot Glacier, circa 1912. Image 3 of 5
• Blackfoot Glacier, circa 1911. Image 4 of 5
• Blackfoot Glacier, circa 1911. Image 5 of 5

Chaney Glacier

• Chaney Glacier, circa 1911. Image 1 of 6
• Chaney Glacier, circa 1910. Image 2 of 6
• Chaney Glacier, circa 1910. Image 3 of 6
• Chaney Glacier, circa 1911. Image 4 of 6
• Chaney Glacier, circa 1911. Image 5 of 6
• Chaney Glacier, circa 1962. Image 6 of 6

Grinnell Glacier

• Grinnell Glacier, circa 1911. Image 1 of 1

Harrison Glacier

• Harrison Glacier, circa 1909. Image 1 of 2
• Harrison Glacier, circa 1913. Image 2 of 2

Ipasha Glacier

• Ipasha Glacier, circa 1911. Image 1 of 2
• Ipasha Glacier, circa 1914. Image 2 of 2

Blackfoot-Jackson 1914E.C. Stebinger, Glacier NPPublic domain

Jackson Glacier

• Jackson Glacier, circa 1912. Image 1 of 8
• Jackson Glacier, circa 1912. Image 2 of 8
• Jackson Glacier, circa 1940. Image 3 of 8
• Jackson Glacier, circa 1900-1901. Image 4 of 8
• Jackson Glacier, circa 1913. Image 5 of 8
• Jackson Glacier, circa 1911. Image 6 of 8
• Jackson Glacier, circa 1911. Image 7 of 8
• Jackson Glacier, circa 1911. Image 8 of 8

Old Sun Glacier

• Old Sun Glacier, circa 1939. Image 1 of 3
• Old Sun Glacier, circa 1928. Image 2 of 3
• Old Sun Glacier, circa 1925. Image 3 of 3

Blackfoot-Jackson 2009 colorLisa McKeon , USGSPublic domain

Pumpelly Glacier

• Pumpelly Glacier, circa 1914. Image 1 of 3
• Pumpelly Glacier, circa 1914. Image 2 of 3
• Pumpelly Glacier, circa 1914. Image 3 of 3

Rainbow Glacier

• Rainbow Glacier, circa 1913. Image 1 of 2
• Rainbow Glacier, circa 1913. Image 2 of 2

Shepard Glacier

• Shepard Glacier, circa 1911. Image 1 of 3
• Shepard Glacier, circa 1913. Image 2 of 3
• Shepard Glacier, circa 1911. Image 3 of 3

Sperry Glacier

• Sperry Glacier, circa 1920s. Image 1 of 7
• Sperry Glacier, circa 1908. Image 2 of 7
• Sperry Glacier, circa 1943. Image 3 of 7
• Sperry Glacier, circa 1936. Image 4 of 7
• Sperry Glacier, circa 1948. Image 5 of 7
• Sperry Glacier, circa 1957. Image 6 of 7
• Sperry Glacier, circa 1945. Image 7 of 7

Two Ocean Glacier

• Two-Ocean Glacier, circa 1913. Image 1 of 3
• Two-Ocean Glacier , circa 1913. Image 2 of 3
• Two-Ocean Glacier, circa 1913. Image 3 of 3

Vulture Glacier

• Vulture Glacier, circa 1913

OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST

Sources of Historic Photographs:

• US Geological Survey Photographic Library
• Glacier National Park Archives
• University of Montana Archives
• Glaciers of the American West – PSU

Repeat Photography

• USGS Repeat Photography Project
• Volunteer to re-photograph glaciers!
• Alpine of the Americas Project
• USGS Repeat Photos of Alaskan Glaciers
• Glacier Works
• National Snow & Ice Data Center
• Glaciers Online

Glacier Retreat in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

• USGS glacier research in GNP
• Glacier recession animation
• Podcasts & video