No. 38 The Grand Cañon of the Colorado, near the foot of the To-ro-weap Valley.
From 1871-1879, Lieutenant George M. Wheeler (1842-1905), army engineer and surveyor, led a series of geographical surveys with the purpose of mapping the land west of the 100th Meridian through much of California, Nevada, present-day Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Timothy H. O’Sullivan (1840-1882) and William Bell (1839-1915) were the primary photographers who traveled on the surveys from 1871-1873 documenting the geological features of the American West. This photograph of the Grand Cañon near the To-ro-weap valley (today known as Toroweap Overlook in the Grand Canyon in Arizona) was taken by Bell in 1872. The full title reads: "No. 38 The Grand Cañon of the Colorado, near the foot of the To-ro-weap Valley. A view of the south wall of the gorge, as seen from the opposite wall. (F. 81.)" The original negative number, 81, is written on the right-hand image, likely by the photographer.
Title printed on back of stereograph. Printed on front of stereograph: "Expedition of 1872. 1st Lieut. Geo. M. Wheeler. Corps of Engineers, Commanding." Also printed on back of stereograph: "War Department Corps of Engineers U.S. Army. Geographical and Geological Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian. Wm. Bell, Phot." Hand-written note on back reads: "Miss Crete Rose Collection."