The United States, founded in 1776, began to visually recognize itself only in 1839 when daguerreotypes—the first form of photography—arrived in American cities. This new medium appeared to fulfill the democratic promise of the nation’s founding by allowing nearly anyone to leave a visual trace of their existence, no longer reserving portraits for the wealthy.

Photography has since chronicled pivotal moments and myths in American history. The gold rush, for example, became one of the earliest great American dramas captured on camera, depicting ordinary prospectors squinting toward the lens and beyond, in search of gold. This scene symbolizes the American Dream, described as "a lottery everyone plays and very few win," where the search itself is what made people American.

In October 1862, an unprecedented exhibition opened in New York, featuring the work of Alexander Gardner. Rejecting romanticized imagery, Gardner focused on the grim reality of the Civil War, photographing decomposing corpses on the battlefield after one of the bloodiest clashes in American history, which claimed more than 22,000 lives on 17 September 1862.

Photography has also documented moments of joy and controversy, such as the iconic sailor kissing a woman in Times Square on V-J Day, whose joy is now shadowed by the woman’s words, "It wasn’t my choice." The legendary musicians captured in 1958’s "A Great Day in Harlem" highlight Black brilliance in a society that often limited where it could flourish.

More recent controversies include the 2025 suspension by World Press Photo of Nick Ut’s authorship attribution for "The Terror of War" (commonly known as "Napalm Girl") following a rival claim that the photo was taken by a Vietnamese stringer.

Other historic moments captured include the 1945 American conquest of Iwo Jima, the first piece of Japanese territory taken after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

These 48 photographs collectively capture the multifaceted story of America at 250 years, reflecting its triumphs, struggles, myths, and realities through the power of still images.

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