Catching Shadows on the Plains

Born in Wisconsin in 1868, Edward S. Curtis developed an early interest in photography. At the age of twelve, he built his own camera using a lens his father brought home from the Civil War. By the age of seventeen, he began his formal apprenticeship in photography. Within three short years, he launched his own studio, Curtis and Guptill, Photographers and Photoengravers. However, his big break came in 1906, when he partnered with J.P. Morgan on a lifelong project that would make national headlines— The North American Indian.

In partnership with prominent art collector, curator, and friend, Tim Peterson, Woolaroc Museum is proud to announce the grand opening of the upcoming exhibition, Catching Shadows on the Plains, on the evening of Saturday, April 25th. This stunning exhibition will pay homage to Curtis, who devoted decades of his life to preserving indigenous culture, as well as the featured Plains tribes who were featured in the project. It will be on display in the Woolaroc Museum’s gallery through December 31st, 2026. “Without their collaboration, our country would not have these incredible photographs to appreciate and learn from,” states Shiloh Thurman, Museum Director at Woolaroc.