U.S. Geological Survey
Native American Indians of the Southwest, 1871-1975
Chick here to start a 3D Image tour of Early Photography Taken During the U.S. Geological and Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian and the Powell Survey of the Colorado River Canyons.

Click here to see a Thumbnail Gallery.
Click here to see original stereograph photography (from the Library of Congress, Photographs Division).
General map of where different Indian tribes lvied ath the time of the Surveys of 1871-1875 Map of the American Southwest with generalized locations where tribes were encountered during the Surveys

Click here to see national parks 3D websites.


In 1871 Lieutenant George Wheeler was put in charge of the United States Geological Surveys West of the One Hundredth Meridian. At the same time, John Wesley Powell began his exploration of the Colorado River Canyons. Both Survey teams were tasked with collecting an accurate physical description of parts of the Southwest, including the topography and mineral resources, information on resident Native Americans, and other facts valuable for settlement and economic exploitation. Both Survey crews hired field photographers and surveyors. In that era, stereo photography was extremely popular, and large numbers of stereograph images were printed, sold, and distributed around the world.

This website includes to photography of Timothy O'Sullivan, John K. Hillers, and E.O. Beaman. These men traveled alongside survey crews. Between 1871 and 1875 they photographed many Native American Indians posed in native dress or involved in activities of daily life.

Many thanks are extended to the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, for making the original stereographs available free to the public. (Search their website at http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.html) to see the original stereographs.)


This website contains images produced from stereo photopairs that were manipulated into anaglyphs (3-D images). You will need red-and-cyan stereo viewing glasses to get the 3-D visual effects. Aspects of the original stereograph card borders were preserved were possible.

U.S. Department of the Interior - U.S. Geological Survey - Geology Discipline
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Last modified Fri 12/31/2007

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