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Treasure 123: George Washington Wilson in the Highlands and Islands
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Treasure 123: George Washington Wilson in the Highlands and Islands

Historic Documents
Léa Moreau
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Treasure 123: George Washington Wilson in the Highlands and Islands
Historic Documents
346
Treasure 123: George Washington Wilson in the Highlands and Islands
In July 1860, Wilson, accompanied by his friend George Walker, set off on a photographic tour of the west coast of Scotland. They travelled to Inverness, then through the Caledonian Canal. Walker expressed his delight at these new experiences "as we proceeded the scenery got always grander, the mountains loftier and more magnificent". The lack of suitable transport and accommodation had ensured that this wild and mountainous terrain was still largely unexplored by the mid-1800s and had not yet been exploited as a tourist destination. When Wilson began to visit these more remote areas they were still well off the main tourist track but his photographs which captured the grandeur of the landscape brought them to more general attention and increased their popularity for visitors. Although Wilson's views of the spectacular Highland scenery are impressive, his skilful portraits of the people and their way of life provide a valuable record of these remote areas in the late 1800s.

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TR15_14
George Washington Wilson
Aberdeen Local Studies
Yes
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