Thomas Moran: Shoshone Falls

   

Moran: Shoshone Falls Thomas Moran
Shoshone Falls (Oil, 1874-75) Thomas Moran (1837-1926) Gilded Generation

 

 

Shoshone Falls (Oil, 1874-75)

I've included this work by Moran since it's one of the very few of the Idaho landscape.  Shoshone Falls still exists, but whether you can view the falls or not depends upon water availability.  A good portion of the Snake River's water is removed upriver for irrigation purposes.  When there is enough of a run-off, however, it's worth a trip to Twin Falls to view the falls from the overlook on the canyon's south side. 

 

The scene won't quite be like Moran's painting which also views the falls from the south side.  You'll see that the north side of the canyon is now cluttered with a power station and transmission wires and towers.   Nonetheless, when the river is full, and the water thunders over the edge, and the canyon is filled with spray -- and when the sky blackens with the coming of a late afternoon storm -- you're likely to see and remember an image not unlike Moran's.

 

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Pub History: This page was originally located at the following URL: http://www.isu.edu/~wattron/OLMoran4.html