An Excavated Sublime: G. Edward Anderson's Photographs of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in Bingham Canyon, the World's First Open-Pit Mine.

The article focuses on the photographic work of George Edward Anderson, who documented the construction of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's new branch line into Bingham Canyon in 1906, a site that would become the world's first and largest open-pit mine. Over a decade, Anderson captured nearly one hundred photographs that illustrate the dramatic transformation of the landscape due to mining activities, highlighting the balance between technological advancement and environmental degradation. The piece contextualizes Anderson's work within the broader history of mining in the American West, emphasizing the shift from traditional underground mining to large-scale surface mining techniques pioneered by figures like Daniel C. Jackling. Ultimately, Anderson's photographs serve as a poignant record of industrial change and its impact on the natural environment. [Extracted from the article]