Kilburn Benjamin West Collection

The Merry Twins, New Hampshire, . Creator: BW Kilburn
The Merry Twins, New Hampshire

Germans Day, California Midwinter Exposition, 1850s-1910s. Creator: Kilburn Brothers
Germans Day, California Midwinter Exposition, 1850s-1910s. [California Midwinter International Exposition, 1894?]

Tip-Top House and Frost Work. Mt. Washington, 1877. Creator: BW Kilburn
Tip-Top House and Frost Work. Mt. Washington, 1877. Albumen silver print, stereocard

The Great Forth Bridge, Near Edinburgh, Scotland, 1891. Creator: BW Kilburn
The Great Forth Bridge, Near Edinburgh, Scotland, 1891. Albumen silver print, stereocard

The Illumination, Chicago Day, Worlds Columbian Exposition, 1893. Creator: BW Kilburn
The Illumination, Chicago Day, Worlds Columbian Exposition, 1893. [Electricity provided by Westinghouse, used to decorate buildings with incandescent lights, illuminate fountains

Pass of the Crawford Notch, and Train, late 19th century. Creator: BW Kilburn
Pass of the Crawford Notch, and Train, late 19th century. Albumen print, stereocard

The Glory of Niagara Falls, U. S. A. 1886. Creator: BW Kilburn
The Glory of Niagara Falls, U.S.A. 1886. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Our Trip to the Mines, Ouray, Col, U. S. A. 1890. Creator: BW Kilburn
Our Trip to the Mines, Ouray, Col, U.S.A. 1890. [Travellers visiting goldmines in Colorado]. Albumen silver print, stereocard

In Midair 3000 feet from anywhere, Yosemite, Cal. 1894. Creator: BW Kilburn
In Midair 3000 feet from anywhere, Yosemite, Cal. 1894. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Our Captain, Our Guide over Pathless Waters, 1890. Creator: BW Kilburn
Our Captain, Our Guide over Pathless Waters, 1890. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Mirror Lake, Yosemite, California, 1894. Creator: BW Kilburn
Mirror Lake, Yosemite, California, 1894. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, California, 1895. Creator: BW Kilburn
Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, California, 1895. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Great Canyon from Point Lookout, Yellowstone National Park, 1896. Creator: BW Kilburn
Great Canyon from Point Lookout, Yellowstone National Park, 1896. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Glories of Mt. Washington, Midwinter, 1895. Creator: BW Kilburn
Glories of Mt. Washington, Midwinter, 1895. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Frankenstein Trestle and Train, P. & O. R. R. Crawford Notch, N. H. late 19th century
Frankenstein Trestle and Train, P. & O. R.R. Crawford Notch, N.H. late 19th century. [Steam locomotive on wooden trestle bridge, Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad, New Hampshire]

Excavation Pompeii, Italy, 1891. Creator: BW Kilburn
Excavation Pompeii, Italy, 1891. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Don t get the clothes too blue!, 1897. Creator: BW Kilburn
Don t get the clothes too blue!, 1897. [Woman in bloomers-style bicycling outfit instructing her husband how to do the laundry

Did any of them get away?, 1893. Creator: BW Kilburn
Did any of them get away?, 1893. [Man looking at his wife and new-born triplets]. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Bank of England, from Mansion House, London, 1891. Creator: BW Kilburn
Bank of England, from Mansion House, London, 1891. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Weighing the Baby, 1892. Creator: BW Kilburn
Weighing the Baby, 1892. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Our Country Cousin, 1882. Creator: BW Kilburn
Our Country Cousin, 1882. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Full Moon, 1891. Creator: BW Kilburn
Full Moon, 1891. Albumen silver print, stereocard

Group of 14 stereographs of Africa and Actors, 1850s-1910s. Creator: Kilburn Brothers
Group of 14 stereographs of Africa and Actors, 1850s-1910s. (Scene Above Bridge, on the Cape to Cairo Railway Over Zambezi River, near Victoria Falls, River.)

Coasting, Mt. Washington Railway, c1900. Creator: Kilburn Brothers
Coasting, Mt. Washington Railway, c1900. The Mount Washington Cog Railway, the worlds first mountain-climbing cog railway (rack-and-pinion railway), opened to paying customers in 1868

Senate Front, Washington D. C. c1900. Creator: Kilburn Brothers
Senate Front, Washington D.C. c1900. The entrance to the United States Senate, in the north wing of the Capitol Building. The marble sculpture, entitled The Rescue

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Kilburn Benjamin West: Capturing the World's Wonders Through a Lens Step into the captivating world of Kilburn Benjamin West, a renowned photographer whose lens transported viewers to breathtaking landscapes and iconic landmarks. Born in Germany during the 1850s, West's passion for photography led him on an incredible journey across continents. At the California Midwinter Exposition, West showcased his talent by capturing Germans Day festivities with remarkable precision. His photographs immortalized the vibrant atmosphere and cultural richness of this event that celebrated German heritage in America. In 1877, West ventured to Mt. Washington where he captured an enchanting image titled "Tip-Top House and Frost Work. " This masterpiece beautifully depicted nature's artistry as frost delicately adorned a historic house nestled amidst snow-capped peaks. West's lens then took us to Scotland in 1891, where he documented "The Great Forth Bridge. " This engineering marvel stood tall against Edinburgh's skyline, showcasing human ingenuity at its finest. One of his most awe-inspiring works was "The Illumination, " captured during Chicago Day at the World Columbian Exposition in 1893. The photograph revealed a mesmerizing display of lights that transformed Chicago into a dazzling wonderland, leaving spectators spellbound. Venturing further into nature's wonders, West explored Crawford Notch capturing both its rugged beauty and the power of steam locomotives rushing through it. These late 19th-century images encapsulated both man-made progress and untamed wilderness harmoniously coexisting. "The Glory of Niagara Falls" became another testament to West’s extraordinary skill as he froze time amid cascading waters in 1886. The resulting photograph allowed viewers to experience firsthand the grandeur and raw energy emanating from this natural wonder. West also embarked on thrilling adventures like "Our Trip to the Mines" in Ouray, Colorado (1890), documenting miners' lives with authenticity rarely seen before.