Museum Celebrating Photography

The George Eastman House is the oldest photography museum in the world contains one of the oldest film archives. The museum opened in 1949 in Rochester, New York. The museum is a leader in film and photograph preservation. The facility is located in and around the house built by George Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak Company. The estate of George Eastman was donated upon his passing away to the University of Rochester. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

The museum's mission has always been to collect, safeguard, and make the history of photography and film available to the general public. Original articles in the museum include a rare compilation of Civil War photographs by Alexander Gardner, Gabriel Cromer's huge collected works from France, and a historical assortment from Eastman Kodak. Over the next four decades the museum's artifacts grew through donations and contributions from many sources. The collection expanded quickly requiring the museum to open a new, larger facility in 1989. In 1996 further growth necessitated the opening of the Louis B. Meyer Conservation Center in nearby Chili, New York where advance technology made possible the ability to preserve the museum's rare 35 mm prints.

The photography collection consists of more than 400,000 photographs and negatives dating back to the beginning of photography and up to modern times. More than 14,000 photographer's works are on display including all of the most prominent figures in history of the profession. Also housed in the museum are over 23,000 films, 43,000 publications, and over 25,000 pieces of photography related equipment. Practically every well known photographer from the past 60 years is represented.

There are over 3,500 daguerreotypes on display representing the first triumphant process in the annals of photography history. Included are early Philadelphia plates and plates originated by Samuel Bemis, one of the first amateur photographers in America, and a number of others.

Included in the museum's collections are many rare and monumental artifacts that mark the advancement of the medium as a technology and as one of the most compelling methods of personal articulation in the modern era.

The Eastman's house represented a classical portico of ornamental workmanship. Visitors are welcome to explore the mansion that George Eastman once called home. The gardens are beautiful, especially during the spring and fall months.

The museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on the history of photography, collecting and preserving the artifacts, and caring for the Eastman's mansion, gardens and archives. Audio tours of the historic house and grounds are available to guests at no charge at the admission desk. The house is accessible to wheelchair and stroller bound guests.

The Discovery Room located on the second floor is of particular interest to the younger guests where they can produce their own sun prints and enjoy other hands-on displays.

The Museum Store has a nice array of Children's books and toys enabling visitors to take something home from their visit to the museum.

Whether you are a photography buff or not, a visit to the Eastman's museum and mansion will be rewarding, fun, and educational for the whole family.