For many communities in the 19th century, the river was the primary highway, and the photographer arrived by water. "Floating Galleries" and daguerreotype flatboats drifted down the Mississippi, the Ohio, and the Thames, docking at landings to offer portraits to locals.
This theme explores the unique logistical challenges and romantic allure of the aquatic studio. From humble barges to elaborate showboats, these vessels brought the culture of the gallery to the riverbank, capturing a population that lived and worked on the water's edge.
