Steriopticon

This interesting device, called a stereopticon, was a popular parlor entertainment piece in the late 19th century. It consisted of a slide viewer that one looked through and a series of cards featuring two photographs on each card. As the card is placed in the viewer and slid into place, it turns the two images into one three dimensional image. Cards for these often featured exotic landscapes and allowed people during this time to "visit" places that they may never see themselves. Missionary schools, started by wealthy easterners in the mountains, often used these devices to teach mountain children about the outside world. Tune in next week for another artifact of the week.

Stereopticons like these were popular entertainment pieces in the late 1800s.

The user would put this hood up to their eyes and look through the glasses to see the three dimensional image.

Stereopticon cards often featured exotic locations. This one shows a picture of Elijah's Convent by the brook Cherith in the Holy Land.

Other cards featured humorous scenes such as this one.