As the 19th century dawned, the United States was a fledgling nation. By its close, it had emerged as the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere. This transformative century witnessed the devastation of civil war, the rise of the railway and the birth of modern marvels like skyscrapers, automobiles and telecommunications. Thanks to the revolutionary technology of photography, many of these pivotal moments were captured in vivid detail.

Click through this gallery to discover the people and events that shaped America during the 19th century. To enjoy these images FULL SCREEN, click the icon in the top right...