Recently, I was fortunate enough to visit the George Eastman House and Museum in Rochester NY, a place that has been on my list for quite some time. Steeped in photographic history, it did not disappoint! Founded on the George Eastman estate in 1947 as a not-for-profit institution, the museum is split into two halves; the museum itself including the vaults below and the original three story house (the term house is selling it short, it’s a mansion!). It is the oldest photographic and cinematography museum in the world and houses not just a few thousand objects but millions of catalogued items.
Entering the mansion, you immediately get a sense of who George Eastman was stepping into his dining room. Everything is meticulous in detail, his initials inlaid on every piece of porcelain, silverware and furniture. There’s even a vault for the china. What is also obvious is his respect and devotion to his mother. The adjacent conservatory with its ballroom floor, glass ceiling, elephant bust, organ and array of ferns cements any notion of who George Eastman was. To stand here and imagine the parties, social gatherings, business dealings and musings between fellow inventors is quite profound. Every other room is no different, various artefacts from all over the globe, craftsmanship in every panel, cornice and carpet weave.
To be continued…