Sugar Cane Field Hands
Panama Canal
Coffee, Guadeloupe
Carib Indians
Haitian Market
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Stereographs of the Caribbean region, like those of Florida, often focused on tropical flora and the cultivation of agricultural products like sugar cane, tobacco, coffee, bananas and cacao. The demand for the picturesque led to the production of many images of gentle landscapes, plazas and street scenes, while the desire for drama inspired stereoviews that depicted the aftermath of natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
Images of Cuba multiplied with public interest in the events of the Spanish-Cuban-American war. Popular views included the damaged hulk of the U.S.S. Maine, whose sinking in 1898 led to U.S. involvement in the war, as well as the movement of American soldiers within Cuba during the war. Images ranged from the everyday existence in encampments to the victorious entry of soldiers into Havana.
Stereoviews also featured everyday life in the region, depicting rural and urban areas and a variety of socioeconomic conditions. Common views included the neighborhoods and homes of rich and poor alike, as well as scenes of markets.
Reflecting an interest in technical achievements at the time, stereoviews celebrated feats of industrial engineering, such as new railways and bridges. Series of stereoviews documented the enormous effort required for the construction of the Panama Canal, completed in 1914, and captured numerous ships passing through its various locks.
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