The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 67

Especially for kids and their families MIGHTY FUNNY Mini 'he Mini Page The 1 1997 by Universal Press Syndicate The State By BETTY DEBNAM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, Meet Thomas Moran Nature's Powerful Painter Thomas Moran has been called our country's best landscape painter. A landscape is a scene of nature that shows land. Moran is most famous for his pictures of the mountains and the wonders of the West. As a young painter, Thomas Moran went to Montana in 1871 to join a group sent out by the U.S. government to make maps of Yellowstone, then an unknown region.

Most Americans had no idea what this rugged part of our country looked like. The reports from fur trappers told many strange tales of such things as geysers "where hell bubbled up" and water shot thousands of feet into the air. The The watercolor sketches Moran on a made, together with photos taken by a feet. photographer who was also part of the group, helped convince Congress to set aside land for our first national park, ID Yellowstone. When we think of the West, we often have a picture painted by Thomas Moran in our mind.

He painted the Grand Canyon in Arizona and many other great American landscapes. Thomas Moran painted "Green River Cliffs, Wyoming" in 1881. D.C. Washington, Museum, Interior the 6 Department courtesy ojoyd brilliant colors of the canyon walls, waterfall and rugged mountains helped launch Moran successful career. The painting "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" measures 7 feet by 12 Congress bought it for $10,000 to hang in the U.S.

Capitol building in Washington. Yellowstone When Thomas YELLOWSTONE Moran was 7 MT WY NATIONAL PARK years old, the family left England for Because his paint- Library ings convinced Philadelphia. At Congress to set Hampton a young age, he went to work aside land for East Yellowstone, with his brother, Thomas Moran has was an courtesy who been called the father ojoud artist. Thomas' opeJojo9 of our national parks. Thomas Moran good health and Yellowstone the (1837-1926) great success 'uoppajjoo largest national is park enabled him to travel a great deal.

He ajenud in the lower 48 died at the age of 89. states. The park celebrated its 125th An exhibit of Thomas Moran's paintings will photo anniversary this be at the National Gallery of Art, year. Washington, D.C., through Jan. 11, 1998.

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