Screen shot by Clay Schuldt The Edward Curtis’s “The North American Indian” photo exhibit was available through virtual tour Friday. A link to the tour was opened through The Grand’s website and Facebook page. The 360 virtual gallery allowed viewers to tour the exhibit space from their computer. By clicking on selected images, viewers are able to read a brief description of the photographs.

NEW ULM — The Grand Center for Arts and Culture held a special virtual gallery opening Friday for the new Edward Curtis photography exhibit.

The exhibit is called “The North American Indian” and features a selection of 55 of Curtis’s portraits and scenes on loan from The Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center. The virtual tour was available on The Grand’s website, Facebook starting at 5 p.m. Friday. The virtual gallery was created historian Dan Hoisington. The 360 virtual gallery allowed viewers to tour the exhibit space from their computer.

Born in Wisconsin in 1868, Curtis and his family moved to LeSueur County when he was five. The family moved to Seattle in 1887. There, Curtis opened a photography studio and become well-known for his portraits. In 1895, he photographed Princess Angeline, daughter of Chief Siahl (Seattle). His work photographing Native American tribes began in 1900 after seeing a Sun Dance in Montana conducted by the Blackfoot, Blood and Piegan people. It was then he realized the culture of Native Americans was disappearing. He dedicated his career to photographing Native people and their culture as a method of preservation.

Curtis’s photographs have become famous as a source of information on various Native tribes. Some of these photographs have been challenged as presenting an idealized version of Native culture, but it has also been a source for reclaiming tribal heritage.

The display is arranged in the Grand’s 4 Pillars Gallery based on tribe location. Curtis photographed tribes from all over North America. The photographs are arranged by tribes of the Northwest, Great Plains tribes, Southwest tribes and tribes of Alaska. The photographs included portraits of individuals as well as scenic photos of tribal culture.

All of Curtis’s photograph can be viewed through a special 360 gallery tour. By clicking on selected images, viewers are able to read a brief description of the photographs.

The video is up for viewing on the Grand’s websites (www.thegrandnewulm.com), Facebook page and YouTube. The 4 Pillars Gallery is open to visitors from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. “The North American Indian” will be on display at the Grand through February 28.