'Living History: Victorian Wet Plate Photography' demonstration scheduled at Chateau de Morès State Historic Site

September 11, 2024

MEDORA, N.D. - The public is invited to "Living History: Victorian Wet Plate Photography" Saturday, Sept. 21, 1:30 p.m. MT at the Chateau de Morès State Historic Site, Medora. This immersive event offers a unique glimpse into 19th-century photographic techniques that shaped the way history has been captured and preserved. The event is free. All ages are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fargo-based photographer and artist Kary Janousek will demonstrate the Victorian wet plate collodion process invented in 1851. This method was widely used by early photographers, including during the American Civil War and the westward expansion. Learn the basic steps of creating an image, why this form of photography is still relevant, and how she uses the process to bring the past into the present.

"Wet plate collodion photography is not only a captivating art form, but it's also a window into the past," said Site Supervisor Keshna DeJesus. "This demonstration will give attendees an appreciation for the skill and dedication of early photographers."

The Chateau de Morès State Historic Site includes an 1883 home and an interpretive center. Inside the Interpretive Center, see wagons and coaches that once traveled the paths of the site. Learn about the Medora friendship and friction between homeowner Marquis de Morès and future president Theodore Roosevelt. Experience "Sundogs and Sunflowers: Folklore and Folk Art of the Northern Great Plains," celebrating the rich folk heritage of North Dakota. The historic home offers insight into the lives of Medora's namesake and her husband, the French Marquis de Morès.
The Chateau de Morès is a state historic site managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Chimney Park in Medora is part of the site. The Chateau de Morès site and Interpretive Center near Medora are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT. For more information, contact Site Supervisor Keshna DeJesus at 701.623.4355. Find a calendar of upcoming State Historical Society events at history.nd.gov/events.

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CONTACT
Kara Haff, Public Information Officer
701.328.3547

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