Built in 1892 as a hotel for the rapidly growing worker’s ward of Homestead, the Bost Building was at the center of one of American labor history’s most dramatic episodes – the Homestead Lockout and Strike. Now a National Historic Landmark, the Bost Building serves as the Visitors’ Center for the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area and offers exhibits on the region’s industrial and cultural heritage.
IN THE WIDE VIEW
On view February 10 through March 31, 2023
Panoramic photography, though almost as old as photography itself, reached its zenith in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Before the era of the mass appeal of film and the advent of television, very few people were able to indulge in educational trips and tourism. Panoramic photographs, stereo-views, and other photographic media offered a view of the world never seen by most and were often the only way for people to see foreign countries, people, cities, landscapes, and events.
Commercial developments by photographic companies such as Kodak made panoramic photography possible for professional and amateur photographers, spurring on the panoramic craze of the early 20th century. Special cameras were developed specifically to shoot panoramic images using a variety of techniques. Panoramas were produced by stitching together a series of sequential images; by shooting the image with a special camera such as the #4 Kodak Panoram at 180 degrees; or by using a Cirkut camera made by the Rochester Panoramic Camera Company which produced images by rotating the camera 360 degrees. What began as a cumbersome process for professionals eventually developed into a ubiquitous mode available on most people’s smartphones!
This unique exhibit—In the Wide View—is an assemblage of images recently donated to the Rivers of Steel Archives as part of the David Ludwig Collection. Mr. Ludwig was an artist and educator as well as an avid collector of industrial and railroad panoramic photographs and ephemera. His deep love of the industrial legacy of the region was infectious and is reflected in his collection. Rivers of Steel is thrilled to honor his legacy and share his passion with the public.
The Restored Rooms
Permanent Exhibition
The Bost Building was built in 1892 as a hotel and served as the temporary headquarters for the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers during the Homestead Lockout and Strike. Two rooms in the building have been restored to the way they looked in 1892, with original floorboards and period reproduction wallpaper. One room tells the story of the Homestead Strike; the other is currently hosting a small exhibition on the 1919 Steel Strike.
The Homestead Room
Permanent Exhibition
The Homestead Room is a permanent exhibit displaying artifacts and art work specifically related to the Homestead Works. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a 23.5′ long model of the Homestead Works that originally stood in the General Office Building of the mill.
This exhibition offers timed ticketing on Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or by appointment. Closed on federal holidays. $5.00 suggested donation.