Plains Collection

Buffalo soldiers charging to the rescue
Captain Dodges black troopers to the rescue in the west. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century Frederic Remington illustration

Native American attack on a western stagecoach
Western stagecoach fighting off Native Americans on the plains. Printed color halftone reproduction of a Frederic Remington illustration

Earth, topographic and bathymetric map. This whole Earth map is centred on the Greenwich meridian, at zero degrees latitude

CHEYENNE CHIEF, c1910. The Cheyenne chief Two Moons. Photographed by Edward S. Curtis, c1910

SITTING BULL (1834-1890). Sioux Native American leader

QUANAH PARKER (1845?-1911). Native American Kwahadi Comanche leader. Photographed c1895

Fort Dearborn, on the site of Chicago
Fort Dearborn in 1803, on the south side of the Chicago River. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of an illustration

A herd of elephants (Loxodonta africana) strides out beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, Africas highest snow-capped mountain at 19, 340 feet above sea level

Sioux Indian Chief - Hollow Horn Bear (18501913) - a BruleIakota leader during the Indian Wars on the Great Plains of the United States. Date: 1906

Australia, satellite image
Australia. Satellite image of the Earth, set against a background of stars, centred on the island continent of Australia. North is at top. Clouds (white) are seen in the atmosphere

Mormons caught in a prairie blizzard en route to Utah
Mormon hand-cart company struggling across the plains to Salt Lake City. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Australia, topographic map. Highlands and lowlands of the continents are shown as ridges and flat areas. Southeast Asia (top left), New Zealand (lower right) and Antarctica (bottom right)

Two cheetahs sprint after their quarry

NATI2A-00016
Earth lodge of the Omaha tribe, Great Plains, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Earth, topographic and bathymetric map. This map is centred on the Pacific Ocean, at longitude 140 degrees west. Highlands and lowlands of the continents are shown as ridges and flat areas

Umbrella acacia trees, Masai Mara, Kenya, East Africa, Africa

Zulu / Surrender 1879
The end of the Zulu War - the surrender of native chiefs to Sir G. Wolseley. They sit together on the plains and hold a peace conference

Tetons with first light in the valley with snow, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States of America, North America

Pioneer family on the Oregon Trail
Covered wagon of a homesteader family heading west with their belongings. Hand-colored engraving combined with a photograph

Sioux tepee of buffalo-hide
Tipi made of buffalo hide sewn with sinew in the traditional way, Wicoti Living History Lakota Encampment, Black Hills, SD. Digital photograph

Ufos / Roswell Crash
At the Foster Ranch, New Mexico, debris supposed to be from a crashed UFO is found, alien bodies allegedly retrieved from second site on the Plains of San Agostin

African elephant (Loxodonta africana) herd walking in the plains during the dry season, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. October

The Roswell Incident
At the Foster Ranch in New Mexico, debris supposed to be from a crashed UFO is found, with alien bodies allegedly retrieved from a second site on the plains of San Agostin

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) six month old cub jumping on its mother, Bandhavgarh National Park, India

African Wild dogs or Cape hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus) at close range taken from ground level, Zimanga Private Game Reserve, South Africa

CYNTHIA ANN PARKER (1827-1865). American frontierswoman and Native American Cherokee captive, mother of Comanche chief Quanah Parker, pictured here with her infant daughter, Topasannah

Color lithograph, 1845, by James Ackerman after George Catlin
SIOUX LACROSSE PLAYERS. Color lithograph, 1845, by James Ackerman after George Catlin

Allosaurus dinosaur, artwork. Allosaurs were large carnivorous reptiles that lived during the late Jurassic period (155 to 145 million years ago)

Telegraph poles following the transcontinental railroad
Linemen stringing telegraph wire beside the transcontinental railroad on the Great Plains, 1860s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Oregon Trail pioneers passing Chimney Rock
Covered wagons passing Chimney Rock, a landmark on the Oregon Trail, Nebraska. Hand-colored woodcut combined with a photograph of Chimney Rock

Mormon Trail hand-cart
Mormon hand-cart replica on the Oregon/Mormon Trail, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. Digital photograph

Sioux Nation at Standing Rock Reservation, ND, 1890
Taking a census at the Sioux Standing Rock Agency, North Dakota, 1890. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Wolf-skins disguising Native American hunters
Native Americans in wolf skins stalking buffalo. Hand-colored woodcut of a 20th century illustration

Omaha Indian village of tipis
Part of the hoo-thu-ga, a circle of dwellings of the Omaha tribe. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Putting in seed on a bonanza farm, 1800s
Seeding grain on a bonanza farm, North Dakota, early 1890s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Native Americans meet Lewis and Clark at Council Bluffs
Lewis and Clark meeting with Native Americans at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Hand-colored woodcut by Patrick Goss, a member of the expedition

Buffalo herd in South Dakota
Free-ranging buffalo herd on the grasslands of Custer State Park, Black Hills, South Dakota. Digital photograph

Africa, topographic map. Highlands and lowlands of the continents are shown as ridges and flat areas. Southern Europe and the Middle East are also seen at top and upper right respectively

Canadian World War One Patriotic Postcard. " Here Comes Canada!" Date: circa 1916

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Families in covered wagons crossing the plains. Hand-colored engraving of a 19th-century illustration

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Sioux brave heralding the sunrise. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century Frederic Remington illustration

South Africa, KwaZulu Natal, Spioenkop Game Reserve. Female Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) & her young. South Africa, KwaZulu Natal, Spioenkop Game Reserve

Looking out from a game-viewing vehicle on a safari holiday

Sunrise at Bosley Cloud, near Congleton, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Sunrise over the temples of Bagan, Myanmar

Picture No. 11073907
Monte Vettore in snow Monti Sibillini National Park, Italy

GHOST DANCE, c1888. Barbarism Illustrated: The North American Manner. Contemporary depiction of the Ghost Dance, drawn by John Steeple Davis. Wood engraving, c1888

HSET2A-00125
African-American buffalo soldier riding a frisky horse fresh from the herd, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration by Frederic Remington

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The vast expanse of the plains has witnessed countless stories unfold throughout history. From Native American attacks on western stagecoaches to the intricate details etched on Earth's topographic and bathymetric maps, these wide-open spaces hold a multitude of tales. In the late 1800s, as settlers ventured westward, a stagecoach traversing the plains fell victim to a fierce Native American attack. The clash between cultures left an indelible mark on this untamed land. Amongst the warriors who fought valiantly were legendary figures such as Cheyenne Chief Two Moons and Sioux leader Sitting Bull. Their photographs captured by Edward S. Curtis in 1910 serve as powerful reminders of their strength and resilience. Another influential figure emerged from these plains - Quanah Parker, a Kwahadi Comanche leader who defied all odds. His photograph taken around 1895 showcases his regal presence and unwavering determination. As settlements began to dot the landscape, Fort Dearborn stood tall on what would become Chicago's site. It served as both protection and symbolized conflicts between indigenous peoples and incoming settlers. During times of peril, like when buffalo soldiers charged to rescue those in need or when Mormons found themselves caught in prairie blizzards en route to Utah, bravery prevailed against nature's wrath. While elephants may seem out of place amidst these narratives, they too have roamed across vast grasslands akin to the plains – their majestic presence reminding us that beauty knows no bounds or borders. Hollow Horn Bear stands proudly among Sioux Indian chiefs whose legacies are intertwined with this expansive terrain. Their wisdom echoes through generations even today. Not limited solely to North America, Australia also boasts its own breathtaking version of these open spaces captured vividly in satellite images – showcasing yet another facet of our planet's diverse landscapes. Lastly, we cannot forget about the fur trade era where flintlock pistols played a pivotal role.