Snapshots of the Past

On the Potomac – Vintage Print

On the Potomac, [ca. 1890] — historic photograph
On the Potomac, [ca. 1890]. Historic photograph from the Washington DC collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

Step back in time with On the Potomac, a historic photograph rich in period detail. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.

The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. Perfect for a home, office, library or classroom wall, and a gift with a story behind it. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past has been bringing history to the wall since 2001, for tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

On the Potomac

Order a print

Secure checkout · SSL encryptedPowered by Stripe and PayPal

Free shipping in the lower 48 states. The checkout page shows the picture, size and price before you pay.

Sign up for our newsletter

Sent securely. No purchase needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Ask about licensing or this print

The second title written on this glass negative, *Back from the Potomac*, points to a bridge over the river in Maryland, one of the subjects catalogued with the picture. The 11 by 7 inch dry plate dates from about 1890 and was made by the Detroit Publishing Company, which issued views of American places through illustrated catalogues. A later catalog supplement lists a Detroit locale for the negative, a reminder that the company often relabeled and reissued its images. Scenes like this one show how the Potomac served as a working waterway as well as a scenic one near the nation's capital.

Created / published[ca. 1890]
Medium1 negative : glass ; 11 x 7 in.
GenreDry plate negatives.
NotesSecond title on negative: Back from the Potomac. Locale based on Detroit, Catalogue J Supplement (1901-1906). 208" and "WHJ & Co." on negative. Detroit Publishing Co. no. 014121. Gift; State Historical Society of Colorado; 1949."
SubjectsRivers. Bridges.United States--Maryland--Potomac River.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection
Original scan8,808 × 6,990 px · prints to 29 × 23 in at 300 dpi
Reference02473u on the potomac

More from the Washington DC collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.