Harriet Tubman Gravestone, Auburn, NY, 2008
       
     
Fence, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
       
     
Concrete Stump, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
       
     
Cannon, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
       
     
Confederate Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
       
     
Federick Douglass House Site, Rochester, NY, 2008
       
     
Plymouth Rock, Plymouth, MA 2007
       
     
Obelisk, Plymouth, MA 2007
       
     
Salem Witch Memorial, Salem, MA, 2007
       
     
Memorial, Wounded Knee, SD, 2009
       
     
Promenade, Mount Rushmore, SD, 2009
       
     
Memorial, Wounded Knee, SD, 2009
       
     
Entrance, Manzanar, CA, 2008
       
     
Cemetery Entrance, Manzanar, CA, 2008
       
     
Cemetery, Manzanar, CA, 2008
       
     
Observation Tower, Manzanar, CA, 2008
       
     
Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
       
     
Tension Structure, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
       
     
Reinforcing Bars, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
       
     
Parking Lot, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
       
     
Sidewalk, Ninth Ward, NOLA, 2010
       
     
Erie Canal, Syracuse, NY, 2008
       
     
Harriet Tubman Gravestone, Auburn, NY, 2008
       
     
Harriet Tubman Gravestone, Auburn, NY, 2008

© 2021 Oscar Palacio

About the Project

“With the series American History Re-visited, Palacio continues his interest in quizzical human constructions seemingly plopped atop “natural” patches of American landscape. In these images his focus shifts from the humble and everyday to a more formal, public arena. In his new photographs of historic sites and monuments, Palacio moves beyond the subject of staking out individual turf to address the more complex matter of the fostering and maintaining of a national identity. While photographing such iconic places as Plymouth Rock, Hoover Dam, and, most recently, Gettysburg National Military Park and Underground Railroad sites, Palacio considers the function of these revered memorials: What narratives do they posit and perpetuate? Who or what is celebrated or excluded at such sites? In pondering these questions—particularly the last—Palacio is struck by the parallels between these commemorative markers and photography itself. Neither a single monument (no matter how monumental) nor an individual photograph (no matter how graphic) can possibly convey an entire story. Both require the viewer to negotiate between what he or she knows and what viewpoint of the story is being represented—and privileged.”


-Allison Kemmerer, Mead Curator of Photography and Curator of Contemporary Art, Addison Gallery of American Art

Fence, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
       
     
Fence, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
Concrete Stump, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
       
     
Concrete Stump, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
Cannon, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
       
     
Cannon, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
Confederate Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
       
     
Confederate Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park, PA, 2009
Federick Douglass House Site, Rochester, NY, 2008
       
     
Federick Douglass House Site, Rochester, NY, 2008
Plymouth Rock, Plymouth, MA 2007
       
     
Plymouth Rock, Plymouth, MA 2007
Obelisk, Plymouth, MA 2007
       
     
Obelisk, Plymouth, MA 2007
Salem Witch Memorial, Salem, MA, 2007
       
     
Salem Witch Memorial, Salem, MA, 2007
Memorial, Wounded Knee, SD, 2009
       
     
Memorial, Wounded Knee, SD, 2009
Promenade, Mount Rushmore, SD, 2009
       
     
Promenade, Mount Rushmore, SD, 2009
Memorial, Wounded Knee, SD, 2009
       
     
Memorial, Wounded Knee, SD, 2009
Entrance, Manzanar, CA, 2008
       
     
Entrance, Manzanar, CA, 2008
Cemetery Entrance, Manzanar, CA, 2008
       
     
Cemetery Entrance, Manzanar, CA, 2008
Cemetery, Manzanar, CA, 2008
       
     
Cemetery, Manzanar, CA, 2008
Observation Tower, Manzanar, CA, 2008
       
     
Observation Tower, Manzanar, CA, 2008
Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
       
     
Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
Tension Structure, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
       
     
Tension Structure, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
Reinforcing Bars, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
       
     
Reinforcing Bars, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
Parking Lot, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
       
     
Parking Lot, Hoover Dam, NV, 2006
Sidewalk, Ninth Ward, NOLA, 2010
       
     
Sidewalk, Ninth Ward, NOLA, 2010
Erie Canal, Syracuse, NY, 2008
       
     
Erie Canal, Syracuse, NY, 2008