Fort Marion, from hotel San Marco before 1888

H.L. Roberts made this photograph of Fort Marion from hotel San Marco. The image presents us with a view of the fort, likely taken in the late 19th or early 20th century. Let's consider the image in relation to its social and cultural context. This photograph would have been consumed as part of a wider visual culture that contributed to the shaping of American attitudes toward their colonial history. Specifically, the representation of Fort Marion is striking because it emphasizes the monumentality of the fort as a physical structure and symbol of the nation. But this is also an institution, so it is a cultural project as well. To fully understand this image, the historian must consider the social and political context of its production and consumption. By researching the history of institutions like tourism and photography, we can understand how images like this one played a role in shaping attitudes toward the US and its complex colonial legacy.