New Ulm, Minnesota, circa 1899. "Main Street." Showcasing the latest in electric illumination. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Photographic Co. View full size.

Circa 1907. "Main Street, Northampton, Massachusetts." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

March 1941. "Backed up storm sewer in Negro slum district. Norfolk, Virginia." Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.

October 1942. "Manpower, junior size. The charge of the scrap brigade in Roanoke, Virginia, includes such methods of collecting as this pony cart. The patriotic and energetic youngsters of the town are making an all-out effort to corner every available piece of scrap in the city, so that their soldier and sailor brothers will have the shells, guns, and tanks with which to beat the Axis." 4x5 inch nitrate negative by Valentino Sarra for the Office of War Information. View full size.

June 1939. "Blacksmith shop now used for auto repair. Glendive, Montana." A strong horseshoe motif here, architecturally speaking, in addition to the giant pile of actual horseshoes. Roofline of alphabetical anvils by Wile E. Coyote. "Wrecking" by "Joe Balison," who seems to be a fan of quote marks. Medium format negative by "Arthur Rothstein" for the "Farm Security Administration." View full size.

Circa 1904. "Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Winona, Minnesota, circa 1899. "Winona Hotel." Spelled out in Edison bulbs. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Detroit circa 1902. "Photochrom Company Building, front view." Last seen here and here. The boys are still at their ballgame, at least until the cavalry turns the corner. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size.

1902. "Public square -- Portsmouth, New Hampshire." Try our free filling station! 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

New York circa 1905. "Police Parade -- Squad of mounted police." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Richmond, Virginia, circa 1912. "Main Street west from Twelfth." A rank of banks. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

        "May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view."

-- Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire

1904. "Navajo riders in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona." Gelatin silver print by the ethnologist Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952). View full size.

Circa 1906. "A Fifth Avenue stage, New York." Where even the horses have hats. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Circa 1902. "Main Street -- Dayton, O." No. 2 with a broom. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

August 1942. "Shepherd with his horse and dog on Gravelly Range, Madison County, Montana." Kodachrome transparency by Russell Lee. View full size.