Platt Babbitt Daguerreotype of Niagara Falls
- Description
- This whole-plate hand-colored daguerreotype by Platt D. Babbitt shows tourists at Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls, New York, circa 1854-1870. Babbitt established himself as a professional photographer on the American side of Niagara Falls in 1853. He built a pavilion for his camera to take photographs of visiting groups, without the tourists' knowing. Babbitt finished his daguerreotypes, unique positive photographs made on silver-coated copper plates, and offered them for sale before groups left. He ran this lucrative business for almost two decades.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- photograph
- Date made
- ca 1850
- maker
- Babbitt, Platt D.
- Physical Description
- brass (overall material)
- copper (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 23 cm x 18 cm x 2 cm; 9 1/16 in x 7 1/16 in x 13/16 in
- Place Made
- United States: New York, Niagara Falls
- ID Number
- PG*71.21.09
- catalog number
- 71.21.09
- accession number
- 299134
- subject
- Photography
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Photographic History
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Visitor Comments