A rare and unusually detailed carte de visite view of Niagara Falls, taken by renowned photographer Charles Bierstadt of Niagara Falls, New York. In the foreground is Bierstadt’s iconic photo wagon, prominently advertising "Large & Small Views of the Falls" with "Parties in Foreground," a marketing phrase aimed at tourists wanting personalized souvenir images. Just right of the wagon, a horse-drawn carriage with two horses and a driver waits, adding depth and life to the scene.

In the mid-ground, near the river’s edge, a tripod-mounted camera and umbrella are visible. A man dressed in a white photographer’s coat, likely Bierstadt himself, stands nearby. The American and Horseshoe Falls are clearly visible in the distance, mist rising dramatically between them. The reverse is ornately backmarked “Chas. Bierstadt, Niagara Falls, N.Y.”

A beautifully composed image showing the overlap of tourism, early photography, and American natural landmarks.