Port Neuf Canyon, Idaho c. 1879

Thomas Moran sketched this watercolor of Port Neuf Canyon in Idaho. This work exemplifies the role of art in shaping public perceptions of the American West. Moran was part of a generation of artists who visually documented the western territories of the United States. These images were not just landscapes; they were powerful tools in promoting westward expansion and reinforcing ideas about national identity and manifest destiny. They presented the land as both sublime and ripe for development, downplaying the presence and rights of Indigenous peoples. Consider the cultural context: the late 19th century was a time of intense territorial expansion, industrial growth, and social change. Moran's art was part of a larger narrative that promoted the idea of the West as a land of opportunity, which encouraged settlement and resource extraction. Historical archives, maps, and government documents can help us understand the complex relationships between art, politics, and westward expansion in this period.