I found myself back at the beautiful George Eastman House this holiday season. For those of you unfamiliar with this house, you definitely aren’t from Rochester. George Eastman was a man who made his fortune from his achievements in developing the first personal camera, the Brownie Box and eventually Kodak. His philanthropic contributions to our small city, as well as his breathtaking mansion/museum have made Eastman a Rochester icon. On a recent clear and cold night in early December, I visited the house for roughly the 12th time. The beauty of the house was brand new to me during the holiday season. Poinsettias and gingerbread houses lined the grand hallways. The Christmas tree and dining room table were decorated, just as they were for George, nearly a century ago.
Even more exciting than the Christmas spirit of the house, was the new photography exhibition, Where We Live. This exhibit features photos of Rochester’s past in celebration of our city’s 175th anniversary. Thanks to Eastman’s invention of the personal camera, Rochester is well documented with some of the earliest photographs of any city. I found it fascinating to see the exact streets and buildings I’m so familiar with— but 100 years ago. Horse and buggy running where cars now drive. The Erie Canal where the expressway now lies. As a first generation Rochesterian, I felt a sense of pride and belonging, knowing I’m a part of a city rich with history and culture.
One part of the exhibit features photos of Rochester submitted by members of our community. To contribute your photo to Where We Live, visit www.eastmanhouse.org. On display now through January 24, 2010.
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