Photographs showing landscapes, geological and other features, of portions of the western territory of the United States : obtained in connection with geographical and geological explorations and surveys west of the 100th meridian, seasons of 1871, 1872, and 1873

Album of mounted photographic prints created by Timothy H. O'Sullivan and William Bell, and later compiled by the United States War Department. Photographs document the Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian led by George Montague Wheeler, 1871-1873

The photographic prints were arranged into three consecutive series by the United States War Department, "Explorations in Nevada and Arizona - Expedition of 1871," with photographs by O'Sullivan; "Explorations & Surveys West of the 100th Meridian - Expedition of 1872," with photographs by Bell; and "Geographical & Geological Explorations West of the 100th Meridian - Expedition of 1873," with photographs by O'Sullivan

Images of the expedition of 1871 by O'Sullivan include locations along the Colorado River in the Black Canyon, Iceberg Canyon, and Grand Canyon between Arizona and Nevada. Other images include a view of men and women in the mining town of Logan, Nevada; a view of Saguaro cacti, probably in the upper Sonoran desert in southern Arizona; a detailed view of a rock marked with striations from wind erosion near Grand Wash, Utah (misidentified by a typescript caption as below Fortification Rock, Arizona); and a view of an alpine lake, in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California

Images of the expedition of 1872 by Bell include views of steep rock walls and narrow valleys in vicinity of Kanab Canyon, Arizona, as well as views of the Colorado River and Marble Canyon (identified as Grand Cañon) near the confluence with the Paria River in Arizona. Other images include a view of geologic rock formations in Salt Creek Canyon, Utah, and Perched Rock near Rocker Creek, Arizona

Images of the expedition of 1873 by O'Sullivan in Arizona include views in the vicinity of the White Mountains with several views of Apache Lake, including an image that shows Western Apache Indian military scouts, as well as a view of the ranch owned by Corydon Eliphalet Cooley. Several images in the vicinity of Canyon de Chelly include views of the White House and Anasazi ruins, as well as images of rock towers and canyon walls. Other images include a view at the confluence of the Colorado River and Paria River; a view of the North Fork Canyon and the White River (identified as Sierra Blanca Creek); and an overview of Fort Apache

Images of the expedition of 1873 by O'Sullivan in New Mexico include images related to Inscription Rock, with a view of the steep rock spires and detail photographs of Spanish inscriptions carved in sandstone. Images of the community of Zuni, include a view of the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe mission church, as well as views of multi-story stone and adobe pueblos. An image shows a view of an entrance or narthex of the Mission of San Miguel in Santa Fe. An informal portrait near Fort Defiance shows Navajo men and women sitting and standing beside a loom

An incidental image from the expedition of 1873 by O'Sullivan in Utah shows a view of mesa tops and canyon walls near the confluence of the San Juan River and the Colorado River