Although George D. Wakely did not make the first picture in Colorado, he did open the first picture gallery in Denver. The Rocky Mountain News ran the following notice on October 20, 1859: "G. Wakely, a talented artist from Chicago, Ill., has opened an ambrotype gallery opposite the Theatre, On Larimer Street, in Denver." An ambrotype is an underexposed glass negative blacked with cloth or painted on the reverse side with dark varnish, creating a positive image on glass.

Wakely arrived in Denver as a member of the Charles Thorne Theatrical Company, which played the Apollo Hall throughout September 1859. By the end of October, however, Wakely had decided to leave show business and open an ambrotype business.

In the relatively new profession of the picture gallery owner, photographers had to advertise rigorously and sometimes used bizarre or unique events to snag the public’s interest and garner business. An event in 1861 provided Wakely with just such an opportunity. The Rocky Mountain News carried the following in July of 1861:

"GRANT TIGHT ROPE ASCENSION---Gus. Shaw, the agent of M’lle Carolista, has called upon us to state that a subscription is now incirculation, which if sufficiently edorsed, will secure a Grand Tight Rope Ascension in this cityabout the 15 inst. The ascension will be made from some high points…"

Denverites showed their interest and raised $170 for the performance. It was advertised with the following:

"On Thursday next M’lle Carolista is to take a tight rope walk in this city. The rope is to bestretched from the New York Store to Graham’s Drug Store over which she will pass,stopping by the way for the purpose of balancing, posing, etc. This daring feat will nodoubt call a large concourse of people to the city."

"Mr. Wakely, Daguerrean and Ambrotypist on Larimer Street, showed us some beautiful viewstaken of the crowd assembled yesterday to see M’lle Carolista in her daring feat of rope walking.These are valuable not only on account of representing that interesting affair, but they alsopresent a grand view of Larimer Street, the plains, etc. Call at Wakely’s and see those pretty representations."

Sadly, only one view of the event has survived, an uncased ambrotype measuring 4.25 by 6.25 inches,showing the performer midway through her daring walk. For photogapher Wakely, however, it apparentlypaid to advertise, as he began construction of a new brick studio in the Spring of 1862 on Larimer Street,opposite the post office, in which he operated until 1864.

By Judy Steiner, Associate Curator Photography