Frontier Visionary: George Catlin and the Plains Indians

Arts & Activities, Jan, 2005 by Barbara Herberholz

FRONTIER VISIONARY: George Catlin and the Plains Indians. Video/27 min./$24.95. Level. Middle School and Above. Crystal Productions, P.O. Box 2159, Glenview IL 60025, www.crystalproductions.com.

This video tells the story of George Catlin's ambitious journey beyond the Mississippi and up the Missouri River, following part of the Lewis and Clark trail, during which he captured the richness and diversity of 50 Plains tribes. Numerous paintings are seen in which he recorded the manners and customs of American Indians. His Indian Gallery, on view in the video, is one of the most ambitious achievements of the 19th century. Students will hear some commentary as told by Catlin himself of his frontier adventures. Beautifully filmed and produced.-B.H. For information about this program, circle No. 400 on the Reader Service Card.