In 1832, Karl Bodmer met Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian, ruler of the small state of Neuwied, Prussia (now part of Germany).   Known as Prince Maximilian of Wied, or Prince Max, Maximilian was a German explorer, naturalist and ethnographer searching for a draftsman to accompany him to North America.   He selected Bodmerfor the expedition to the Great Plains region of the United States, along the Missouri River.  Prince Max had led another well publicized expedition to South America, and the North American trip was to bring more notice with the publication of the 3 volume book from which these pictures were scanned.

Of the many images he made from the trip, 81 were reproduced as aquatints for the book.  Scenes include subjects from the entire journey, from Boston, through New York and Pennsylvania, down the Ohio to Cairo, up the Mississippi to St. Louis, and all the way to the headwaters of the Missouri.  Bodmer’s works from this trip were recognized as among the most painted images ever made of the region at that time, and included many depiction of local culture, artifacts and scenery.

On the return trip they went via Cleveland, Lake Erie, and the Erie canal to Albany and down the Hudson.  The images in the GALLERY are in order from the book, so the sequence of the trip can be somewhat although not precisely followed.  All the images are based on original very high resolution tif files, which have been cleaned up, straightened and enhanced for the best display.  The files on the site have all been converted to jpeg for easiest download and use.   Biographies and an account of the trip may be accessed offsite via THIS LINK.

Title: Maximilian, Prince of Wied’s Travels in the Interior of North America, during the years 1832–1834
Author:  Prince Maximilian of Wied (Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied)
Artist: Karl Bodmer
Publisher: Ackermann & Co.
Date Published: 1839

The images below all link to the corresponding pages in the  GALLERY  This is just a sample of the full 82 images.

Map to illustrate the Route of Prince Maximilian of Wied in the interior of North America From Boston to the Upper Missouri &a in 1832, 33, & 34.

Boston Lighthouse.

View of the Delaware near Bordentown.View of Bethlehem (Pennsylvania).

Forest scene on the Tobihanna, Alleghany Mountains.

Saukie and Fox Indians.

Tower-Rock, view on the Mississippi.

Offering of the Mandan Indians.

Magic pile erected by the Assiniboin Indians.

A Skin Lodge of an Assiniboin Chief.

A Blackfoot Indian on horse-back.

The Elkhorn Pyramid on the Upper Missouri.

Mändeh-Páhchu, A young Mandan Indian.

Dog-sledges of the Mandan Indians.

Bellvue, Mr. Dougherty's Agency on the Missouri.

Cleveland Lighthouse on the Lake Erie.

Forest scene on the Lehigh (Pennsylvania).New-Harmony on the Wabash.

Mássika, Saki Indian , Wakusásse, Musquake Indian.

Mouth of the Fox River (Indiana).

Dacota Woman and Assiniboin Girl. (Dakota Woman and Assiniboine Girl. )

Funeral scaffold of a Sioux Chief near Fort Pierre.

Mató-Tope, a Mandan chief.

Fort Clark on the Missouri (February 1834).

Bison-Dance of the Mandan Indians in front of their Medecine Lodge in Mih-Tutta-Hankush.

Indian utensils and arms.

Fac simile of an Indian painting.

Pehriska-Ruhpa, Moennitarri Warrior in the Costume of the Dog Danse. (Dog Dance)

Remarkable hills on the upper Missouri.

Niagara Falls.

Please go to the GALLERY to see more images, all available for free download.  All are public domain and ready to be used i various sizes.  No credit is necessary, although a courtesy link and acknowledgement would be appreciated, such as “image courtesy of Old Book Art, www.oldbookart.com, or OldBookArt.