From 1871 until 1891, a handful of itinerant craftsmen crisscrossed Texas producing views of the state’s cities and towns. More than 60 highly detailed and oversized prints in this special exhibition will offer a chronicle of one of the greatest periods in Texas history. The images, which appear as something between a panorama and a map, were drawn from an imaginary perspective high in the air. Tyler will discuss who the artists were and how these amazing and detailed visual records of post-Civil WarTexas provide a fascinating document of the state during one of its most explosive periods of growth.

Ron Tyler received his PhD from Texas Christian University. He began his museum career at the Amon Carter Museum when he became curator of history in 1969. During his tenure at the museum, he served as director of publications and assistant director for history and publications. In 1984 he was named assistant director for collections and programs, the position he held when he left in 1986 to join the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin.

In addition to his professional roles at the University of Texas, Tyler was director of the Texas State Historical Association from 1986 to 2005 and was its president for 10 years prior to that appointment. He serves or has served on numerous boards. He sat on both the planning and accessions committees for the Blanton Art Museum in Austin and is an elected member of the American Antiquarian Society and the Texas Institute of Letters. Tyler is editor and author of more than two dozen books.

Seating for the free February 25 lecture is on a first-come, first-served basis. Auditorium doors open at 10:30 a.m. For more information, please call Carol Noel at 817.989.5066 or e-mail carol.noel@cartermuseum.org.