[Western Photographica]. [Iowa]

[Group of Twenty Stereoviews of the Sioux City Corn Palace of 1888]

[Sioux City, Ia.]: James H. Hamilton, 1888. Twenty stereoviews on printed mounts (one duplicative). Some light soiling and wear, one card lightly creased affecting image. Some slight fading to several photos. Very good. Item #1964

A group of twenty stereocards depicting the Corn Palace of 1888 taken by James H. Hamilton, the official photographer for the Corn Palace festival that year. The Corn Palace at Sioux City was the world's first, founded in conjunction with a citywide harvest festival in the fall of 1887. The festival and the palace were such a success, drawing nearly 140,000 visitors to Sioux City, that the founders decided to repeat their efforts for a further four years. Each year the Corn Palace was rebuilt from scratch, the framed timber structure coated with grain from top to bottom. The Corn Palace of 1888 drew approximately 350,000 people and advertised "toilet rooms and conveniences for ladies and gentlemen".

James H. Hamilton worked as a photographer in Sioux City from the mid-1860s through the 1890s. He photographed many notable figures and scenes in the region, including the Corn Palace, serving as the event's official photographer in 1888. He also worked in partnership at different points with photographers Franklin Hoyt and John Kodylek. The views present here primarily depict the interior of the Corn Palace, showcasing its various rooms which include features such as fireplaces and gas lighting.

Price: $1,250.00