Where can I find historical photographs from the Great Surveys of the American West?
A number of images from the "Great Surveys of the American West" can be downloaded through the online USGS Photographic Library.
Before the USGS was established by Congress as a part of the Department of Interior, four surveys of the western United States took place between 1867 and 1879. Surveys led by Ferdinand Hayden and John Wesley Powell were sponsored by the Interior Department, and Surveys led by Clarence King and Lt. George M. Wheeler were sponsored by the War Department.
A convenient way to find images from the surveys is to search on the names of the photographers. You can also search on terms like "Wheeler Survey" and "King Survey".
The 1867 King Survey
- Known as the "U.S. Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel"
- Led by Clarence King (later the first Director of the USGS)
- Photographers: Timothy O'Sullivan (who was also part of the Wheeler Survey) and C. E. Watkins.
The 1867 Hayden Survey
- Known as the "U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories"
- Led by Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden
- Photographer: William Henry Jackson.
The 1872 Wheeler Survey
- Known as the "U.S. Geographical Surveys West of the One Hundredth Meridian"
- Led by George Montague Wheeler
- Photographer: Timothy O'Sullivan (who was also part of the King Survey).
The 1869 Powell Survey
- Known as the "U.S. Geographical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region"
- Led by John Wesley Powell (later the second Director of the USGS)
- Photographers: J. K. Hillers and E. O. Beaman
Photographs from these expeditions are also available through the Library of Congress.
Related Content
Report of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories Volume III: The vertebrata of the tertiary formations of the West Book I
Report of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume I: Systematic Geology
Report of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume II: Descriptive geology
Report of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume VI: Microscopical petrography
Annual Report upon the geographical explorations and surveys west of the one hundredth meridian, in California, Nevada, Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana: Being Appendix LL of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers f
Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and its tributaries: Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Annual report upon the geological exploration of the fortieth parallel from the Sierra Nevada to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains: Being Appendix KK of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers to the Secretary of War for 1875
Annual Report upon the geographical explorations and surveys west of the one hundredth meridian, in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana: Being Appendix FF of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1874
Descriptive catalogue of the photographs of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories for the years 1869 to 1873: Miscellaneous Publications - No. 5
Report of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume V: Botany
Report of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume III: Mining industry
Preliminary Field Report of the United States Geological Survey of Colorado and New Mexico
Related Content
- FAQ
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 24
Report of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories Volume III: The vertebrata of the tertiary formations of the West Book I
I send herewith a report on the Tertiary Faunae of the United States as represented by collections made in various Territories and States west of the Mississippi River, embraced within the boundaries of your survey. The explorations from which the collections have been derived cover portions of the States and Territories included between British America on the north, the western boundaries of MinnAuthorsF. V. HaydenReport of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume I: Systematic Geology
The Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel promised, first, a study and description of all the natural resources of the mountain country near the Union and Central Pacific railroads; secondly, the completion of a continuous geological section across the widest expansion of the great Cordilleran Mountain System.AuthorsClarence KingReport of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume II: Descriptive geology
This publication contains descriptive geology of western regions examined between 1867 to 1873 as part of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel.AuthorsArnold Hague, S. F. Emmons, Clarence KingReport of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume VI: Microscopical petrography
This publication contains a report on crystalline rocks along the Fortieth Parallel in the Western United States.AuthorsFerdinand Zirkel, Clarence KingAnnual Report upon the geographical explorations and surveys west of the one hundredth meridian, in California, Nevada, Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana: Being Appendix LL of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers f
I have the honor to submit the following report upon geographical surveys west of the one hundredth meridian for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. The States and Territories of California, Nevada, Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana had been entered at the close of the season of 1874, during the several years' operations of the survey. Of the political divisionsAuthorsGeorge Montague WheelerExploration of the Colorado River of the West and its tributaries: Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
In the summer of 1867, with a small party of naturalists, students, and amateurs like myself, I visited the mountain region of Colorado Territory. While in Middle Park, I explored a little cañon, through which the Grand River runs, immediately below the well-known watering-place, "Middle Park Hot Springs." Later in the fall I passed through Cedar Cañon, the gorge by which the Grand leaves the parkAuthorsJohn Wesley PowellAnnual report upon the geological exploration of the fortieth parallel from the Sierra Nevada to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains: Being Appendix KK of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers to the Secretary of War for 1875
I have the honor herewith to present a brief annual report of the operations of the geological exploration of the fortieth parallel, under my charge, for the year ending June 30, 1875, and to state in explanation of its delay that, since the date when it should properly have been rendered, I have been severely ill, and confined to my bed more than half of the time. The entire year bas been spent iAuthorsClarence KingAnnual Report upon the geographical explorations and surveys west of the one hundredth meridian, in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana: Being Appendix FF of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1874
I [G.M. Wheeler] have the honor to submit the following annual report upon geographical explorations and surveys west of the one hundredth meridian, in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Toward the close of the last fiscal year, the expedition of 1873 had taken the field in three separate divisions from Salt LakeAuthorsGeorge Montague WheelerDescriptive catalogue of the photographs of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories for the years 1869 to 1873: Miscellaneous Publications - No. 5
Miscellaneous Publications of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories is comprised of No. 1-12, some with multiple editions. A 1st and 2nd edition of No. 5 were published in 1874 and 1875 respectively. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden is the United States geologist in charge of this series. List of publications, with contents of each, and author and subject index may bAuthorsFerdinand Vandeveer Hayden, William Henry JacksonReport of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume V: Botany
The territory within which botanical collections have been nmade in connection with the United States Geological Survey of the 40th Parallel lies wholly within the limits of Northern Nevada and Utah. It forms a narrow tract at no point exceeding seventy miles in width, between the meridians of 111° and 120°, and extending frorn the parallel of 39° at the southwestern limit to that of 42° at the noAuthorsClarence King, Sereno Watson, Daniel C. EatonReport of the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, Volume III: Mining industry
No abstract available.AuthorsJames D. Hague, Clarence KingPreliminary Field Report of the United States Geological Survey of Colorado and New Mexico
SIR : In accordance with your instructions dated Washington, April 1, 1869, I have the honor to transmit my preliminary field report of the United States geological survey of Colorado and New Mexico, conducted by me, under your direction, during the past season. A portion of your instructions is as follows : “You will proceed to the field of your labors as soon as the necessary arrangements can bAuthorsFerdinand Vandeveer Hayden - News