THE OLDEST KNOWN PHOTO TAKEN IN COLORADO

The oldest surviving photograph of Colorado, according to a group of local historians, has been discovered. The image, a daguerreotype taken in 1853, was taken more than 20 years before Colorado became a state in 1876. The oldest photograph of Colorado was discovered by History Colorado, whose historians chose to do so in honour of the state's 150th birthday the following year. The image itself shows a Cheyenne town close to what is now Lamar, Colorado. Facing the camera are two individuals standing next to four big tipis. It is the only photograph that has survived from Solomon Nunes Carvelho's voyage.

Carvalho, who was born into a Portuguese-Jewish family in South Carolina, first studied to become a portrait painter before becoming adept in daguerreotype. Both his daguerreotypes and oil paintings were shown in his galleries. Colonel John C. Frémont asked Carvalho to accompany him on his exploration of the Western provinces in 1853.

 The expedition's primary objective was to take pictures of the area around the 38th parallel to demonstrate that it was a viable option for a potential transcontinental railroad extension. Given that the daguerreotype was a complex process that may be made more difficult by circumstances like freezing temperatures, Frémont probably intended to enlist Carvalho's assistance.

Carvalho managed to capture a variety of details for Frémont despite these environmental obstacles by bringing all of his cumbersome equipment. But under the severe conditions of the voyage, his person suffered. Carvalho suffered from scurvy, malnutrition, and frostbite. Even though Carvalho eventually made it to California, a fire later in life destroyed all but one of his daguerreotypes.