Kintla Glacier, 1901 - 2019, Glacier National Park

Comparison of the photos shows substantial change in the size of Kintla Glacier after 118 years. Foreground vegetation has also changed after forest fire events. The historic photo, taken by USGS predecessor, Bailey Willis, is the only historic image of Kintla Glacier in the Repeat Photography Collection thus far. Most historic photos usually have only the year recorded, but this image, taken as a documentary image itself, included the complete date. (What a great example of the importance of thorough metadata!) The entire collection of historic and repeated images will soon be archived and available on the USGS Photographic Library website.