Drawn to the North by tales of the gold rush and the untouched riches of Alaska, the Lomen family moved from Minnesota to Nome, Alaska, in 1903. In 1908, the Lomens purchased a photographic studio. Brothers Carl, Harry, Alfred, and Ralph were partners in the business. Harry managed the studio but all of them took photographs quickly learning how to keep cameras in working order at Arctic temperature.

Inuit children, Alaska, c. 1900-1908, Lomen Brothers, Glenbow Archives ND-1-71

The family was also well known for its reindeer business, and Ralph would take a camera and glass plates with him when he traveled by dogsled to visit the reindeer herds. Once, Carl waded into stormy seas to take photographs of a wrecked schooner. Alfred was perhaps the most adventurous photographer, setting up a camera on the Beaufort Sea ice floes to capture panoramic view of Nome and the arrival of the first steamer of the season.

This exhibition features 33 historic photographs of striking Inuit portraits, studies of Inuit life, reindeer herding and the city of Nome.