A vividly illustrated survey of the American vision that energized all aspects of 19th-century society, from the painting of landscapes and scenes of everyday life, to the planning of scientific expeditions and the development of new mechanical devices.

Featuring rarely seen prints, survey photographs, zoological and botanical illustrations, patent models, and engineering diagrams, it focuses on six iconic objects that inspired the American imagination: the buffalo, the giant sequoia, and Niagara Falls (symbolizing vast natural bounty), and the gun, the railroad, and the clock (representing all things mechanical and the purposeful use of time). Each of these served as cultural lightning rods, sparking creativity across a wide swathe of American society. Visions of buffalo herds, railroad trestles, big trees, and Colt rifles engaged not only artists, scientists, and inventors, but also poets, educators, farmers, chaplains, and members of Congress.