AA-2026-D2E327
On the image
A family outing in the 1950s often involved locating a body of water and staring at it for an extended period, a foundational American leisure activity. Here, on a wooden bridge, parents display the era's relaxed approach to child safety, one child held firmly, another balanced precariously but happily on an adult's shoulders.
They contemplate the rushing water below, a scene likely deemed sufficient entertainment for the afternoon. It's an important lesson in appreciating the simple things, or perhaps just a testament to the lack of portable electronic devices.
The dim light captures a memory of a time when the mere act of leaving the house was often adventure enough.
The historian's note
This photograph captures a family on a simple wooden bridge over a fast-flowing waterway, characteristic of recreational areas in mid-20th century North America. The image documents a typical family outing during a period of increasing leisure time and access to natural environments.
In the 1950s, family excursions to parks and wilderness areas became popular, driven by economic prosperity and the growth of the highway system, allowing more households to own automobiles. These trips often focused on appreciating natural scenery.
The cool, desaturated tones in the image are consistent with the colour characteristics of amateur photographic processes available during the decade, particularly when exposed in conditions of lower ambient light.
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Family Outing on Wilderness Bridge, 1950s. 1950–1959. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-D2E327. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/family-outing-on-wilderness-bridge-1950s.
@misc{aaAA2026D2E327,
title = {Family Outing on Wilderness Bridge, 1950s},
year = {1950–1959},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-D2E327},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/family-outing-on-wilderness-bridge-1950s}
}TY - ART TI - Family Outing on Wilderness Bridge, 1950s PY - 1950–1959 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-D2E327 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/family-outing-on-wilderness-bridge-1950s ER -
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