 Hi, I'm Joan Harold, here in the Longmont Museum's newest exhibit, Picturing the West, Masterworks of American Landscape Photography. This carefully curated collection features original mammoth plate photographs from legends like Carlton Watkins, William Henry Jackson, and Edward Moibridge. These exceptional prints are more than 150 years old and have made journeys up and down mountains, but they look as beautiful as the day they were created. But wait, there's more. We've got a sidekick exhibit showcasing hidden gems from female photographers and photographers of color from roughly the same era, offering a more complete look at the American West. And it's not just about pretty pictures, it's a journey through America's era of exploration, think untamed beauty, complex stories, and a visual chronicle of the history of the American West. We're shining a spotlight on both well-known and overlooked artists who shaped how we see the western frontier both in the past and now. Picturing the West also includes period cameras from our historic collection, and on loan from other museum's collections, like those used by these innovative artists, offering a more tangible connection to both the era and the craft. Oh, and don't miss the Portal Gallery next door. We've got a mini exhibit featuring local photographer Geneva Helen Getman. Her snaps from 1956 to 1963 capture the everyday beauty of life, family, friends, pets, livestock, agricultural landscapes, and mountains, a visual love letter that is authentically Colorado. Picturing the West is on view now through May 5th at the Longmont Museum. We hope you'll join us. Learn more at Longmont Museum.org.